Abstract: Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) is central to heterogeneous catalysis but typically requires high-temperature treatment (500 C), often leading to sintering and encapsulation. Here we show that sp-block metals (In and Sn) enable SMSI on transition-metal oxides at room temperature and down to minus 41 C.
In an In/NiO system, metallic In extracts lattice oxygen, generating oxygen-deficient interfacial Ni sites that enhance CO2 activation and alter the reaction pathway. Instead of methane formation in pure NiO, the interface selectively promotes CO production with 99% selectivity and a five-fold higher yield at 350 C, while In nanoparticles has no activity at all. Structure characterization showed the formation of intermetallic compound and pure Ni together as the active center.
Similar behavior is observed across multiple liquid-metal/oxide systems, indicating a transferable mechanism. Extending this concept, in an In-O-Fe system the oxide evolves into an In2O3/Fe3O4 interface, where interfacial bonding In-O-Fe motif modulates electronic states and accelerates formate turnover, which further demonstrates that catalytic function can be maintained within the reduced steady state through interfacial electronic structure.