Buried electrostatic modulation enables size-dependent reactivity in Pd-based nanocatalysts.

ABSTRACT: The catalytic reactivity of metal nanocatalysts is generally assumed to plateau beyond tens of nanometers as their electronic structure and Fermi level (E _F) converge with bulk properties. Surprisingly, our catalytic experiments reveal that Au nanocubes retain pronounced and switchable size-dependent reactivity even above 30 nm, while Pd nanocubes remain size-invariant in this regime. This intriguing contrast parallels their plasmonic behavior, where Au's sp-electron dominance enables robust plasmonic activity despite Pd's strong d-electron damping. Crucially, unlike prior Au-Pd studies focused on static d-band shifts (ligand effects) or light-induced hot electron effects (plasmonics), we propose that Au's sp-electron dominance enables strong E _F respons

SUBMITTER: Chou TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12670755 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature