Curvature‐Controlled Field Effect Enables Thermal Localization for Low‐Temperature C─F Bond Activation

ABSTRACT Geometric singularities are known to concentrate electric and optical fields, but whether curvature alone can localize thermal energy and thereby influence chemical kinetics remains unresolved. Here, we show experimentally and computationally that nanoscale curvature generates localized thermal fields that directly lower reaction barriers in heterogeneous catalysis. Using γ‐Al 2 O 3 architectures with systematically varied curvature, nanoneedles, micro‐needles, and spheres, while maintaining comparable composition, phase, acidity, and defect states, we observe curvature‐dependent temperature localization of up to ∼30 °C at nanoneedle tips under identical external heating. In situ infrared thermography confirms hotspot formation, and operando vibrational spectroscopy reveals enhanced water dissociation and increased *CF 3 intermediate populations during CF 4 decomposition. These effects reduce the apparent activation energy and enable complete CF 4 decomposition at 580 °C, substantially below that required for lower‐curvature structures. The results establish curvature‐induced thermal localization as a general physical mechanism linking geometry to interfacial energy density and reaction kinetics, providing a universal design principle for activating strongly bound molecules.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-06-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76372
Primary Topic
Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Curvature‐Controlled Field Effect Enables Thermal Localization for Low‐Temperature C─F Bond Activation

X J Wang, Emiliano Cortés, Diya Xie, Min Liu et al.
Advanced Science
Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
article

Curvature‐Controlled Field Effect Enables Thermal Localization for Low‐Temperature C─F Bond Activation

X J Wang, Emiliano Cortés, Diya Xie, Min Liu, Wenjie Luo, Li Zhang, Haitao Zhang, Yuxia Duan, Jialin Zheng, Liyuan Chai, Hao Yu, Minghui Yang, Kang Liu
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Geometric singularities are known to concentrate electric and optical fields, but whether curvature alone can localize thermal energy and thereby influence chemical kinetics remains unresolved. Here, we show experimentally and computationally that nanoscale curvature generates localized thermal fields that directly lower reaction barriers in heterogeneous catalysis. Using γ‐Al 2 O 3 architectures with systematically varied curvature, nanoneedles, micro‐needles, and spheres, while maintaining comparable composition, phase, acidity, and defect states, we observe curvature‐dependent temperature localization of up to ∼30 °C at nanoneedle tips under identical external heating. In situ infrared thermography confirms hotspot formation, and operando vibrational spectroscopy reveals enhanced water dissociation and increased *CF 3 intermediate populations during CF 4 decomposition. These effects reduce the apparent activation energy and enable complete CF 4 decomposition at 580 °C, substantially below that required for lower‐curvature structures. The results establish curvature‐induced thermal localization as a general physical mechanism linking geometry to interfacial energy density and reaction kinetics, providing a universal design principle for activating strongly bound molecules.

Advanced Science
Hunan International Economics University (CN), Central South University (CN), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
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