人工光合作用应用前景广泛.docx

The excessive atmospheric1 carbon dioxide that is driving global climate change could be harnessed into a renewable energy technology that would be a win for both the environment and the economy. That is the lure2 of artificial photosynthesis3 in which the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is used to produce clean, green and sustainable fuels. However, finding a catalyst4 for reducing carbon dioxide that is highly selective and efficient has proven to be a huge scientific challenge. Meeting this challenge in the future should be easier thanks to new research results from Berkeley Lab. Peidong Yang, a chemist with Berkeley Labs Materials Sciences Division, led a study in which bimetallic nanoparticles of gold and copper5 were used as the catalyst for the carbon dioxide reduction. The results experimentally revealed for the first time the critical influence of the electronic and geometric effects in the reduction reaction. Acting6 synergistically, the electronic and geometric effects dictate7 the binding8 strength for reaction intermediates and consequently the catalytic selectivity and efficiency in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide, Yang says. In the future, the design of carbon dioxide reduction catalysts9 with good activity and selectivity will require the careful balancing of these two effects as revealed in our study. Yang, who also holds appointments with the University of California (UC) Berkeley and the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at Berkeley, is a leading authority on nanoparticle phenomena10. His most recent research has focused on nanocatalysts fashioned from metal alloys11 rather than a single metal such as gold, tin or copper. Nanoscience expert Peidong Yang holds appointments with Berkeley Lab, UC Berkeley and the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at Berkeley. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt) By alloying, we believe we can tune12 the binding strength of intermediates on a catalyst surface to enhance the reaction kinetics for the carbon dioxide reduction, he says. Nanoparticles provide an ideal platform for studying this effect because, through appropriate synthetic13 processes, we can access a wide range of compositions, sizes and shapes, allowing for a deeper understanding of catalyst performance through precise control of active sites. In addition, Yang says, nanoparticle as catalysts have high surface-to-volume and surface-to-mass ratios that are advantageous14 for achieving high catalytic activity. For this new study, uniform gold-copper bimetallic nanoparticles with different compositions were assembled into ordered monolayers then observed during carbon dioxide reduction. The ordered monolayers served as a well-defined platform that enabled us to better understand their fundamental catalytic activity in carbon dioxide reduction, Yang says. Based on our observations, the activity of the gold-copper bimetallic nanoparticles can be explained in terms of the electronic effect, in which the binding of intermediates can be tuned15 using different surface compositions, and the geometric effect, in which the local atomic arrangement at the active site allows the catalyst to deviate16 from the scaling relation.更多英语学习：1 atmospheric adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的参考例句：Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。2 lure n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引参考例句：Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。He couldnt resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。3 photosynthesis n.光合作用参考例句：In apple trees photosynthesis occurs almost exclusively in the leaves.苹果树的光合作用几乎只发生在叶内。Chloroplasts are the structures in which photosynthesis happens.叶绿体就是光合作用发生的地方。4 catalyst n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事参考例句：A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。The workersdemand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。5 copper n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的参考例句：The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。6 acting n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的参考例句：Ignore her,shes just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。7 dictate v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令参考例句：It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？8 binding 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的参考例句：The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。9 catalysts n.催化剂( catalyst的名词复数 )；触媒；促进因素；有感染力的人参考例句：The first catalytic converters were called conventional oxidation catalysts. 最初的转化器叫做常规氧化催化器。 来自辞典例句Many processes that are essential to the chemical industry use heterogeneous catalysts. 很多重要的化学工业过程就是使用多相催化剂的。 来自辞典例句10 phenomena n.现象参考例句：Ade couldnt relate the phenomena with any theory he knew.艾德无法用他所知道的任何理论来解释这种现象。The object of these experiments was to find the connection,if any,between the two phenomena.这些实验的目的就是探索这两种现象之间的联系，如果存在着任何联系的话。11 alloys n.合金( alloy的名词复数 )参考例句：This is essentially a development of thoria dispersion strengthened nickel alloys. 这基本上是用二氧化钍弥散强度化的镍基合金。 来自辞典例句The lack of deep hardening in these alloys negates their use. 这些合金缺乏深层硬化能力使它们无法利用。 来自辞典例句12 tune n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整参考例句：Hed written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。13 synthetic adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品参考例句：We felt the salesm