Ag Doped Au ₄₄ Nanoclusters for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO ₂ to CO

A novel Ag doped Au44 (C10 H9 )28 nanocluster (C10 H10 =1-ethynyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene) was synthesized, that is, Ag4+x Au40-x (C10 H9 )28 (x≤6), where four Ag positions located in the surface staple of the cluster have been determined, while six Au/Ag co-occupying positions have been found in the metal core of the cluster. The electronic configuration of Au44 (C10 H9 )28 cluster is significantly disturbed by doping Ag atoms, hence promoting the electron transport capability. For the two-electron conversion reaction of CO2 to CO in electrochemical reduction of CO2 , Ag doped Ag4+x Au40-x (C10 H9 )28 catalyst exhibited higher effective activity and long-term stability than its counterpart Au44 (C10 H9 )28 catalyst.