Light-driven C–H activation mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides

Jingang Li; Di Zhang; Zhongyuan Guo; Zhihan Chen; Xi Jiang; Jonathan M. Larson; Haoyue Zhu; Tianyi Zhang; Yuqian Gu; Brian W. Blankenship; Min Chen; Zilong Wu; Suichu Huang; Robert Kostecki; Andrew M. Minor; Costas P. Grigoropoulos; Deji Akinwande; Mauricio Terrones; Joan M. Redwing; Hao Li; Yuebing Zheng

doi:10.1038/s41467-024-49783-z

Nature Communications (Jul 2024)

Light-driven C–H activation mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides

Jingang Li,
Di Zhang,
Zhongyuan Guo,
Zhihan Chen,
Xi Jiang,
Jonathan M. Larson,
Haoyue Zhu,
Tianyi Zhang,
Yuqian Gu,
Brian W. Blankenship,
Min Chen,
Zilong Wu,
Suichu Huang,
Robert Kostecki,
Andrew M. Minor,
Costas P. Grigoropoulos,
Deji Akinwande,
Mauricio Terrones,
Joan M. Redwing,
Hao Li,
Yuebing Zheng

Affiliations

Jingang Li: Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Di Zhang: Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University
Zhongyuan Guo: Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University
Zhihan Chen: Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Xi Jiang: Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Jonathan M. Larson: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor University
Haoyue Zhu: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Tianyi Zhang: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Yuqian Gu: Chandra Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Brian W. Blankenship: Laser Thermal Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California
Min Chen: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California
Zilong Wu: Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Suichu Huang: Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Robert Kostecki: Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Andrew M. Minor: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California
Costas P. Grigoropoulos: Laser Thermal Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California
Deji Akinwande: Chandra Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Mauricio Terrones: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Joan M. Redwing: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Hao Li: Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University
Yuebing Zheng: Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49783-z
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract C–H bond activation enables the facile synthesis of new chemicals. While C–H activation in short-chain alkanes has been widely investigated, it remains largely unexplored for long-chain organic molecules. Here, we report light-driven C–H activation in complex organic materials mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and the resultant solid-state synthesis of luminescent carbon dots in a spatially-resolved fashion. We unravel the efficient H adsorption and a lowered energy barrier of C–C coupling mediated by 2D TMDCs to promote C–H activation and carbon dots synthesis. Our results shed light on 2D materials for C–H activation in organic compounds for applications in organic chemistry, environmental remediation, and photonic materials.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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