Kernel Geometry Transformation by Controlled S Incorporation in Cu 14 Nanocluster and Its Impact on Electrocatalysis

ABSTRACT Cu nanoclusters have recently enabled the understanding of active sites and structural factors determining the electrocatalysis performance due to their atomic precision. However, the influence of structure geometry has so far remained elusive to Cu‐nanoclusters‐catalyzed electroreduction of CO 2 . Here, we reported the controlled S incorporation based on the reductant dosage, achieving the geometry transformation of the Cu 8 kernel in the Cu 14 nanocluster while retaining the composition, outer motifs, and Cu valence state. Cu 14 with a parallelepiped kernel exhibits a distinct selectivity toward CH 4 (FE ∼51%), which contrasts with Cu 14 ‐S containing a cubic kernel (mainly C 2+ products, FE ∼33.8%). The electronic structures of Cu 14 nanoclusters are further revealed to be modulated by kernel geometry, altering the binding modes or energetics of the intermediates, as evidenced by in situ spectroscopy and theoretical calculation.

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Small
Published
2026-10-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.76557
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Kernel Geometry Transformation by Controlled S Incorporation in Cu 14 Nanocluster and Its Impact on Electrocatalysis

Wentuan Bi, Yajie Guan, Nan Xia, Likai Wang et al.
7 links
Small
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
article

Kernel Geometry Transformation by Controlled S Incorporation in Cu 14 Nanocluster and Its Impact on Electrocatalysis

Wentuan Bi, Yajie Guan, Nan Xia, Likai Wang, Yingjie Zhang, Baohuan Zhu, Zihao Zhu, Yang Li
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cu nanoclusters have recently enabled the understanding of active sites and structural factors determining the electrocatalysis performance due to their atomic precision. However, the influence of structure geometry has so far remained elusive to Cu‐nanoclusters‐catalyzed electroreduction of CO 2 . Here, we reported the controlled S incorporation based on the reductant dosage, achieving the geometry transformation of the Cu 8 kernel in the Cu 14 nanocluster while retaining the composition, outer motifs, and Cu valence state. Cu 14 with a parallelepiped kernel exhibits a distinct selectivity toward CH 4 (FE ∼51%), which contrasts with Cu 14 ‐S containing a cubic kernel (mainly C 2+ products, FE ∼33.8%). The electronic structures of Cu 14 nanoclusters are further revealed to be modulated by kernel geometry, altering the binding modes or energetics of the intermediates, as evidenced by in situ spectroscopy and theoretical calculation.

Small
Shandong University of Technology (CN), National Science Centre (PL), Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center (CN), Anhui Normal University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, Hefei Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 35%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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Kernel Geometry Transformation by Controlled S Incorporation in Cu 14 Nanocluster and Its Impact on Electrocatalysis — Wentuan Bi, Yajie Guan, et al. · Small (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS