Search

This study is aimed at the present challenge in tandem catalysts, addressing how to endow the catalysts with self‐controlled tandem catalytic‐ability. By borrowing the predation strategy from sundew, the objective was originally met by reporting a smart tandem catalyst which can self‐control the tandem catalytic behavior by catching, decomposing and assimilating the engaging molecules (such as 4‐nitrophenyl acetate). This catalyst was made of a unique leaf containing two functional layers where each may be responsible for one coupled process. The first layer in this catalyst was fabricated with a zipper‐like reactive polymer capable of opening and closing, which allowed the catalyst to catch and decompose 4‐nitrophenyl acetate. The second layer in this catalyst allowed, however, further access to assimilate the decomposed substrate (i. e., 4‐nitrophenol), made of an antibody‐like polymer and encapsulated metal nanoparticles. In this way, the use of this catalyst led to the occurrence of the self‐controlled tandem catalytic‐ability. This novel design suggests a new protocol for developing smart tandem catalysts, which opens new opportunities for controlled tandem catalytic processes. Copying Nature: Inspired by the predation strategy in sundews, this study presents the first case of smart tandem catalysts which can self‐control the tandem catalytic behavior by catching, decomposing and assimilating the engaging molecules (such as 4‐nitrophenyl acetate). This catalyst was fabricated with a unique leaf made of two functional layers where each may be responsible for one coupled process. This novel design opens new opportunities for controlled tandem catalytic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to furnish catalysts with switchable catalytic ability is a challenge in self-controlled catalysis. This issue was addressed by constructing a unique polymer nanoreactor containing 'mobility-recalling' switchable domains that acted as a molecular switch for providing access to the encapsulated metal nanoparticles. This polymer reactor revealed poor reactivity at relatively low temperatures because of the 'frozen' molecular chains in the switchable domains inhibiting the access of substrate to the encapsulated metal nanoparticles (i.e., catalytic 'off' status). In contrast, the polymer reactor demonstrated significant reactivity at relatively high temperatures, resulting from the dramatically increased mobility of the molecular chains, which allowed access to the encapsulated nickel nanoparticles (i.e., catalytic 'on' status). Switching between the catalytic off and on statuses could be repeated owing to the recallable mobility of molecular chains in the switchable domains. This protocol opens up the opportunity to develop smart nanoreactors for controlled chemical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]