A Pt₁/(Co,Ni)(OH)₂/C single-atom electro-catalyst efficiently splits water for H₂generation,viabalanced water-dissociation and H₂-formation steps from the synergistic effect of surface-defective (Co,Ni)(OH)₂and electronically tuned Pt sites.

Surface molecular information acquiredin situfrom a catalytic process can greatly promote the rational design of highly efficient catalysts by revealing structure-activity relationships and reaction mechanisms. Raman spectroscopy can provide this rich structural information, but normal Raman is not sensitive enough to detect trace active species adsorbed on the surface of catalysts. Here we develop a general method forin situmonitoring of heterogeneous catalytic processes through shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) satellite nanocomposites (Au-core silica-shell nanocatalyst-satellite structures), which are stable and have extremely high surface Raman sensitivity. By combining operando SHINERS with density functional theory calculations, we identify the working mechanisms for CO oxidation over PtFe and Pd nanocatalysts, which are typical low- and high-temperature catalysts, respectively. Active species, such as surface oxides, superoxide/peroxide species and Pd–C/Pt–C bonds are directly observed during the reactions. We demonstrate thatin situSHINERS can provide a deep understanding of the fundamental concepts of catalysis.

Ru nanoclusters on Ni/Ni(OH)₂ nanoparticles supported on carbon (Ru/Ni/Ni(OH)₂/C) were successfully prepared and characterized. Ru/Ni/Ni(OH)₂/C exhibited an unprecedented catalytic activity for naphthalene hydrogenation at room temperature due to synergetic catalysis.

Pd/CuO-Ni(OH) ₂ /C showed superior electrocatalytic performance for EOR in comparison with PdCuNi alloy/C and Pd/C. In-situ FTIR studies have shown that CuO and Ni(OH) ₂ effectively inhibited the adsorption of CO and increased the breaking rate of C-C.