Chemical Catalysis and Electrocatalysis
We have been investigating the fundamental surface and interfacial chemistry of metal, alloy and core-shell nanoparticles and nanowires with low-PGM levels for designing active, durable, and low-cost catalysts in sustainable energy and environmental applications. Some of the catalysts have demonstrated promising applications for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, direct alcohol fuel cells, rechargeable lithium-air batteries, and other energy storage devices in terms of activity and durability enhancement at low cost. Part of our on-going work involves industrial partnerships to integrate the catalysts and high-performance hydrogen fuel cell technology into the total renewable energy microgrids.
H. W. Cheng, J. Li, S. Shan, X. Lv, G. Chen, M. Madiou, D. Dinh, S. D. Mousavi, Z.
Wu, S. Wang, Y. Maswadeh, V. Petkov, S. Lu, K. Pei, W. You, Renchao Che, C. J. Zhong,
"In-Situ/Operando Probing of Dynamic Phase Structures of Alumina-Supported Ultrasmall
Copper-Gold Alloy Nanoparticles under Reaction Conditions", Angewandte Chemie, 2025, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202508735. (Early View)
H. W. Cheng, S. Wang, G. Chen, D. Caracciolo, Z. P. Wu, S. Shan, K. Pei, Z. Liu, M.
N. Madiou, X. Lv, D. K. Dinh, S. Lu, Z. Wu, W. You, Q. Li, Z. Wang, H. He, R. Che,
C. J. Zhong, "Atomic Spreading and Retraction of Supported Ultrasmall Alloy Nanoparticles
under Reactive Oxygen at Elevated Temperatures", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c05696. (ASAP)
Z. P. Wu, D. Dinh, Y. Maswadeh, D.T Caracciolo, H. Zhang, T. Li, J. A Vargas, M. Madiou,
C. Chen, Z. Kong, Z. Li, H.Zhang, J. R. Marti虂nez, S. S Lu, L. Wang, Y. Ren, V. Petkov,
C. J. Zhong, "Interfacial reactivity-triggered oscillatory lattice strains of nanoalloys",
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, 146, 35264-35274.
Kong, Z.; Wu, Z.P.; Maswadeh, Y.; Yu, G.; Vargas, J.; Caracciolo, D.; Petkov, V.;
Zang, S.Q.; Tao, L.; Wang, S.; Zhong, C.J., "Self-Sustainable Lattice Strains of Morphology-Tuned
Nanowires in Electrocatalysis", ACS Catalysis , 2024, 14, 4709-4718.
Na, Ren; Madiou, Merry; Caracciolo, Dominic; Wu, Zhi-Peng; Kanyuk, Connor; Shang,
Guojun; Zhong, C. J., Synergy of Carbon Nanotube-Supported Bimetallic Nanoalloy Catalysts
in Rechargeable Lithium-Oxygen Battery, J. Phys. Chem., C,, 2023, 127, 13547-13555.
H.W. Cheng, S. Wang, G. Chen, Z. Liu, D. Caracciolo, M. Madiou, S. Shan, J. Zhang,
H. He, R. Che, C. J. Zhong, Insights into Heterogeneous Catalysts under Reaction Conditions
by In Situ/Operando Electron Microscopy, Advanced Energy Materials Advanced Energy Materials , 2022, 12, 2202097.
F. Xiao, Y.C.Wang, Z.P. Wu, G. Chen, F. Yang, S, Zhu, K. Siddharth, Z. Kong, A. Lu,
J.C. Li, C.J. Zhong, Z.Y. Zhou, M. Shao, Recent Advances in Electrocatalysts for Proton
Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells, Adv. Mater., 2021, 33, 2006292. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006292
Z. P. Wu, D. T. Caracciolo, Y. Maswadeh, J. Wen, Z. Kong, S. Shan, J. A. Vargas, S.
Yan, E. Hopkins, K. Park, A. Sharma, Y. Ren, V. Petkov, L. Wang, C. J. Zhong, Alloying-Realloying
Enabled High Durability for Pt-Pd-3d-Transition Metal Nanoparticle Fuel Cell Catalysts,
Nature Commun., 2021, 12, 859.
S. Wang, A. Lu, C.J. Zhong, Hydrogen Production from Water Electrolysis: Role of Catalysts,
Nano Convergence, 2021, 8, 4.
S. Shan, J. Li, Y. Maswadeh, C. O'Brien, H. Kareeml, D. T. Tran, I. C. Lee, Z. P.
Wu, S. Wang, S. Yan, H. Cronk, D. Mott, L. Yang, J. Luo, V. Petkov, C. J. Zhong, Surface
Oxygenation of Multicomponent Nanoparticles toward Active and Stable Oxidation Catalysts,
Nature Commun., 2020, 11, 4201.
Z. Kong, Y. Maswadeh, J. A Vargas, S. Shan, Z.P. Wu, H. Kareem, A. C. Leff, D. T.
Tran, F. Chang, S. Yan, S. Nam, X. Zhao, J. M. Lee, J. Luo, S. Shastri, G. Yu, V.
Petkov, .C.J. Zhong, Origin of High Activity and Durability of Twisty Nanowire Alloy
Catalysts under Oxygen Reduction and Fuel Cell Operating Conditions, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020. 142, 1287-1299.
Z.P. Wu, S. Shan, S.Q. Zang, C.J. Zhong, Dynamic Core-Shell and Alloy Structures of
Multimetallic Nanomaterials and Their Catalytic Synergies, Acc. Chem. Res., 2020, 2020, 53, 2913-2924.
F. S. Zeng, S. Shan, A. Lu, S. Wang, D. T Caracciolo, R. J Robinson, G. Shang, L.
Xue, Y. Zhao, A. Zhang, Y. Liu, S. Liu, Z. Liu, F. Bai, J. Wu, H. Wang, C. J. Zhong,
Copper-Alloy Catalysts: Structural Characterizations and Catalytic Synergies, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CY00179E.
A. Lu; H-L. Sun; N. Zhang; L. Che; S. Shan; J. Luo; J. Zheng; L. F. Yang; D.L. Peng;
C.J. Zhong; B.-H. Chen, Surface Partial-Charge-Tuned Enhancement of Catalytic Activity
of Platinum Nanocatalysts for Toluene Oxidation, ACS Catal., 2019, 9, 7431-7442.
Z.P. Wu, S. Shan, Z. Xie, N. Kang, K. Park, E. Hopkins, S. Yan, A. Sharma, J. Luo,
J. Wang, V. Petkov, L. Wang, C.J. Zhong, Revealing the Role of Phase Structures of
Bimetallic Nanocatalysts in Oxygen Reduction Reaction, ACS Catal., 2018, 8, 11302-11313.
V. Petkov, Y. Maswadeh, J. A. Vargas, S. Shan, H. Kareem, Z. P. Wu, J. Luo, C. J.
Zhong, Sarvjit Shastri, Peter Kenesei, Deviations from Vegard's law and evolution
of the electrocatalytic activity and stability of Pt-based nanoalloys inside fuel
cells by in operando X-ray spectroscopy and total scattering, Nanoscale, 2019, 11,
5512-5525. V. Petkov, Y. Maswadeh; Y. Zhao; A. Lu; H. Cronk; F. Chang; S. Shan; H.
Kareem; J. Luo; C.J. Zhong; S. Shastri; P. Kenesei, Nanoalloy catalysts inside fuel
cells: An atomic-level perspective on the functionality by combined in operando x-ray
spectroscopy and total scattering, Nano Energy, 2018, 49, 209-220.
H. Kareem, S. Shan, F. Lin, J.Li, Z.P. Wu, B. Prasai, C. P. O'Brien, I. C. Lee, D.T.
Tran, L. Yang, D. Mott, J. Luo, V. Petkov, C. J. Zhong, Evolution of Surface Catalytic
Sites on Thermochemically-Tuned Gold-Palladium Nanoalloys, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 3849-3862.
H. Kareem, S. Shan, Z.P. Wu, L. Velasco, K. Moseman, C. P. O'Brien, D. T. Tran, I.
C. Lee, Y. Maswadeh, L. Yang, D. Mott, J. Luo, V. Petkov, C.J. Zhong, Catalytic Oxidation
of Propane over Palladium Alloyed with Gold: An Assessment of the Chemical and Intermediate
Species, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2018, 8, 6228
R. Na, N. Madiou, N. Kang, S. Yan, J. Luo, G. Liu, Z. Shan, J. Tian, C. J. Zhong,
Multifunctional Anode with P-Doped Si Nanoparticles in Stress-Buffering Network of
Poly-gamma-glutamate and Graphene, Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 14412-14415.
R. Na, Y. Liu, Z.-P. Wu, X. Cheng, Z. Shan, C. J. Zhong, J. Tian, Nano-Silicon Composite
Materials with N-doped Graphene of Controllable and Optimal Pyridinic-to-Pyrrolic
Structural Ratios for Lithium Ion Battery, Electrochim. Acta, 2019, 321, 134742
F.F. Chang, S. Shan, V. Petkov, Z. Skeete, A. Lu, J. Ravid, J. Wu, J. Luo, G. Yu,
Y. Ren, C. J. Zhong, "Composition Tunability and (111) Dominant Facets of Ultrathin
Platinum-Gold Alloy Nanowires towards Enhanced Electrocatalysis", J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
2016, 138, 12166-12175.
N. Kang; M. S. Ng; S. Shan; J. Wu; W. Zhao; J. Yin,; W. Fang; J. Luo; V. Petkov; C.J.
Zhong, "Synergistic Catalytic Properties of Biofunctional Nanoalloy Catalysts in Rechargeable
Lithium-Oxygen Battery", J. Power Sources, 2016, 326, 60-69.
A. Lu, D.L. Peng, F. Chang, Z. Skeete, S. Shan, A. Sharma, J. Luo, C.J.Zhong, "Composition- and Structure-Tunable Gold-Cobalt Nanoparticles and Electrocatalytic Synergy for Oxygen Evolution Reaction", ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2016, 8, 20082-20091.
J. Wu, S. Shan, V. Petkov, B. Prasai, H. Cronka, P. Joseph, J. Luo, and C.J. Zhong, "Composition-Structure-Activity Relationships for Palladium-Alloyed Nanocatalysts in Oxygen Reduction Reaction: An ex-situ/in-situ High Energy X-ray Diffraction Study", ACS Catal., 2015, 5, 5317-5327.
J. Wu, S. Shan, J. Luo, P. Joseph, V. Petkov, C.J. Zhong, "PdCu Nanoalloy Electrocatalysts in Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Role of Composition and Phase Properties in Catalytic Synergy", ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7, 25906-25913.
S. Shan, V. Petkov, B. Prasai, J. Wu, Ph. Joseph, Z. Skeete, E. Kim, D. M. O. Malis, J. Luo, and C. J. Zhong, "Catalytic Activity of Bimetallic Catalysts Highly Sensitive to Atomic Composition and Phase Structure at the Nanoscale", Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 18936-18948.
S. Shan, L.F. Yang, J. Luo, C. J. Zhong, "Nanoalloy Catalysts: Structural and Catalytic Properties", Catal. Sci. Technol., 2014, 4, 3570-3588.
S. Shan, V. Petkov, L. Yang, J. Luo, P. Joseph, D. Mayzel, B. Prasai, L. Wang, M. Engelhard, C. J.Zhong, "Atomic-Structural Synergy for Catalytic CO Oxidation over Palladium-Nickel Nanoalloys", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 7140-7151.
S. Shan, V. Petkov, L. Yang, D. Mott, B. N. Wanjala, F. Cai, B.H. Chen, J. Luo, C.J. Zhong, "Oxophilicity and Structural Integrity in Maneuvering Surface Oxygenated Species on Nanoalloys in CO Oxidation", ACS Catal., 2013, 3, 3075-3085.
R. Loukrakpam, S. Shan, V. Petkov, L. Yang, Jin Luo, C. J. Zhong, "Atomic Ordering Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity of Nanoalloys for Oxygen Reduction Reaction", J. Phys. Chem. C, 2013, 117, 20715-20721.
J. Yin, S. Shan, L. Yang, D. Mott, O. Malis, V. Petkov, F. Cai, M. S. Ng, J. Luo, B. H. Chen, M. Engelhard, C. J. Zhong, "Gold-Copper Nanoparticles: Nanostructural Evolution and Bifunctional Catalytic Sites", Chem. Mater., 2012, 24, 4662-4674.
Wanjala, B.; Fang, B.; Shan, S.; Petkov, V.; Zhu, P.; Loukrakpam, R.; Chen, Y.S.; Luo, J.; Yin, J.; Yang, L.; Shao, M.; Zhong, C.J., "Design of Ternary Nanoalloy Catalysts: Effect of Nanoscale Alloying and Structural Perfection on Electrocatalytic Enhancement", Chem. Mater., 2012, 24, 4283-4293.
B. N. Wanjala, J. Luo, R. Loukrakpam, D. Mott, P. N. Njoki, B. Fang, M. Engelhard, H. R. Naslund, J. K. Wu, L. Wang, O. Malis, C.J. Zhong, "Nanoscale Alloying, Phase-Segregation, and Core-Shell Evolution of Gold-Platinum Nanoparticles and Their Electrocatalytic Effect on Oxygen Reduction Reaction", Chem. Mater., 2010, 22, 4282-4294.
L. Yang, S. Shan, R. Loukrakpam, V. Petkov, Y. Ren, B. Wanjala, M. Engelhard, J. Luo, J. Yin, Y. Chen, C.J. Zhong, "Role of support-nanoalloy interactions in the atomic-scale structural and chemical ordering for tuning catalytic sites", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 15048-15060.
B. Wanjala, B. Fang, J. Luo, Y. Chen, J. Yin, M. Engelhard, R. Loukrakpam, C.J. Zhong, "Correlation between Atomic Coordination Structure and Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Trimetallic Alloy Catalysts", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 12714-12727.
R. Loukrakpam, B. N. Wanjala, J. Yin, B. Fang, J. Luo, M. Shao, L. Protsailo, T. Kawamura, Y. Chen, V. Petkov, C. J. Zhong, "Structural and Electrocatalytic Properties of Nanoengineered PtIrCo Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction", ACS Catalysis, 2011, 1, 562-572.
B. Wanjala, J. Luo, R. Loukrakpam, P. N. Njoki, D. Mott, M. Shao, L. Protsailo, T. Kawamura, C.J. Zhong, "Thermal Treatment of PtNiCo Electroatalysts: Effects of Nanoscale Strain and Structure on Activity and Stability for Oxygen Reduction Reaction", J. Phys. Chem. C, 2010, 114, 17580-17590.
B. Fang, J. Luo, Y. Chen, B. Wanjala, R. Loukrakpam, J. Hong, J. Yin, X. Hu, P. Hu, C.J. Zhong, "Nanoengineered PtVFe/C as the cathode electrocatalysts in PEM fuel cell: Assessment of the catalyst activity and stability", ChemCatChem, 2011, 3, 421-615.
J. Yin, B. Fang, J. Luo, B. Wanjala, R. D. Mott, Loukrakpam, M. S. Ng, Z. Li, J. Hong, M. S. Whittingham, C.J. Zhong, "Nanoscale Alloying Effect of Gold-Platinum Nanoparticles as Cathode Catalysts on Electrocatalytic Properties in Rechargeable Lithium-Oxygen Battery", Nanotechnology, 2012, 23, 305404.
C.J. Zhong, J. Luo, P. N. Njoki, D. Mott, B. Wanjala, R. Loukrakpam, S. Lim, L. Wang, B. Fang, Z. Xu, Fuel Cell Technology: Nano-Engineered Multimetallic Catalysts, Energy & Environmental Science, 2008, 1, 454-466.
C.J. Zhong, Jin Luo, Bin Fang, Bridgid Wanjala, Peter Njoki, Rameshwori Loukrakpam, Jun Yin, Nanostructured Catalysts in Fuel Cells, Nanotechnology, 2010, 21, 062001.
B. Fang, J. Luo, P. N. Njoki, R. Loukrakpam, B. Wanjala, J. Hong, J. Yin, X. Hu, J. Last, C. J. Zhong, "Nanoengineered PtVFe Catalysts in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Electrocatalytic Performance", Electrochim. Acta., 2010, 55, 8230-8236.
J. Luo, L.Y. Wang, D. Mott, P. Njoki, Y. Lin, T. He, Z. Xu, B. Wanjana, S. I-Im Lim, C.J. Zhong, "Core@Shell Nanoparticles as Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cell Reactions", Adv. Mater., 2008, 20, 4342-4347.
D. Mott, J. Luo, P. Njoki, Y. Lin, L. Wang, C. J. Zhong, "Synergistic Activity of Gold-Platinum Alloy Nanoparticle Catalysts", Catalysis Today, 2007, 122, 378-385.
J. Luo, M. M. Maye, V. Petkov, N. N. Kariuki, L. Wang, P. Njoki, D. Mott, Y. Lin, C.J. Zhong, "Phase Properties of Carbon-Supported Gold-Platinum Nanoparticles with Different Bimetallic Compositions", Chem. Mater., 2005, 17, 3086-3091.