The reporter learned from the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis of the Dalian Institute of Chemicals of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that recently the laboratory has made a major breakthrough in the limited catalytic of graphene. They innovatively used the two-dimensional space formed between graphene and the metal surface as a nanoreactor, succeeded in the surface catalytic reaction under the limited area of ​​graphene, and opened up a new way for the regulation of the catalytic activity of the metal surface.

In the traditional catalysis, limited by detection methods and understanding of the catalytic process, the catalyst development mainly relied on empirical attempts, and the controllability of the method was poor, resulting in slow progress in the development of related catalytic processes and catalysts. Previously, scientists established a new method for surface chemistry research based on model catalytic systems. However, this model-catalyzed study of surface chemistry must be carried out under ultra-high vacuum. There is a difficult "pressure gap" between atmospheric pressure and even the actual reaction of high pressure. . In the following decades, scientists from all over the world made unremitting efforts to overcome this "gap," but it is still difficult to reach an ideal state.

Researchers at Dahua Research Institute have made use of light-emission electron microscopes/low-energy electron microscopes developed by the laboratory, and with the aid of related scientific devices from abroad, innovatively proposed the use of two-dimensional spaces formed between graphene and metal surfaces as nano-reactions. The scientific idea of ​​the device was studied and the surface catalytic reaction of graphene was limited. They overlay a graphene structure on the metal surface, so that CO, O2 and other molecules can be quickly intercalated to the graphene-metal interface under near atmospheric pressure conditions. The unique use of graphene “covers” creates a unique space in the limited space. The electronic environment reduces the activation energy of the CO oxidation reaction, changes the surface chemical adsorption characteristics of the metal substrate, and the catalytic reaction rate is significantly accelerated. This breakthrough is of great significance for the research and practice of heterogeneous catalysis.