Cover Feature: Selective Transfer Coupling of Nitrobenzene to Azoxybenzene on Rh Nanoparticle Catalyst Promoted by Photoexcited Hot Electrons (ChemNanoMat 8/2019)

Selective reduction of nitroarenes is challenging due to the co-existence of complex direct and coupling reduction pathways. This cover feature highlights photo-excitation of rhodium (Rh) nanocrystals with sizes of several nanometers, which can selectively boost the coupling reduction of nitrobenzene to produce the metastable but important azoxybenzene. The success relies on the directional flow of hot electrons generated in the Rh nanocrystals to the specific chemical bonds of the adsorbed nitrobenzene molecules. This strategy sheds light on the promise of hot-electron-driven selective hydrogenation using small metal nanoparticle catalysts. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Yugang Sun et al. on page 1000 in Issue 8, 2019 (DOI: 10.1002/cnma.201900182).