Computational investigation on the catalytic activity of Rh-6 and Rh4Ru2 clusters towards methanol activation
Title | Computational investigation on the catalytic activity of Rh-6 and Rh4Ru2 clusters towards methanol activation |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Ghatak, K, Sengupta, T, Krishnamurty, S, Pal, S |
Journal | Theoretical Chemistry Accounts |
Volume | 134 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 1597 |
Date Published | DEC |
Type of Article | Article |
ISSN | 1432-881X |
Keywords | Bimetallic Clusters, Density Functional Theory (DFT), Doping, Methanol Activation, Rhodium Clusters |
Abstract | Catalysis of molecular activation of small molecules through scission of strong chemical bonds is one of the major challenges faced by chemists. More specifically, activation of the strong C-H and O-H bonds of various alcohols, especially methanol, is one of the various important intermediate steps of key organic reactions. Our present work explores a suitable metal cluster catalyst towards methanol dissociation. In particular, we have examined the effect of ruthenium doping (Rh:Ru = 2:1) on the catalytic activity of Rh-6 cluster towards methanol dissociation. Density functional theory-based calculations illustrate two competitive pathways for methanol dissociation, which are via O-H and C-H bond breaking. Both the pathways are found to be energetically favourable in the presence of bimetallic and mono-metallic clusters. Importantly, energy barrier for O-H bond dissociation reduces considerably in doped cluster as compared to pure Rh-6 cluster and is smaller than the values reported for a number of other small metallic clusters. |
DOI | 10.1007/s00214-014-1597-z |
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign) | Foreign |
Impact Factor (IF) | 1.806 |