Diphosphine-Protected Au₂₂ Nanoclusters on Oxide Supports Are Active for Gas-Phase Catalysis without Ligand Removal

Investigation of atomically precise Au nanoclusters provides a route to understand the roles of coordination, size, and ligand effects on Au catalysis. Herein, we explored the catalytic behavior of a newly synthesized Au₂₂(L⁸)₆ nanocluster (L = 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino) octane) with in situ uncoordinated Au sites supported on TiO₂, CeO₂, and Al₂O₃. Stability of the supported Au₂₂ nanoclusters was probed structurally by in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), and their ability to adsorb and oxidize CO was investigated by IR absorption spectroscopy and a temperature-programmed flow reaction. Low-temperature CO oxidation activity was observed for the supported pristine Au₂₂(L⁸)₆ nanoclusters without ligand removal. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the eight uncoordinated Au sites in the intact Au₂₂(L⁸)₆ nanoclusters can chemisorb both CO and O₂. Use of isotopically labeled O₂ demonstrated that the reaction pathway occurs mainly through a redox mechanism, consistent with the observed support-dependent activity trend of CeO₂ > TiO₂ > Al₂O₃. We conclude that the uncoordinated Au sites in the intact Au₂₂(L⁸)₆ nanoclusters are capable of adsorbing CO, activating O₂, and catalyzing CO oxidation reaction. This work is the first clear demonstration of a ligand-protected intact Au nanocluster that is active for gas-phase catalysis without the need of ligand removal.