Combining single atoms with clusters or nanoparticles is an emerging tactic to design efficient electrocatalysts.Both synergy effect and high atomic utilization of active sites in the composite catalysts result in enh...Combining single atoms with clusters or nanoparticles is an emerging tactic to design efficient electrocatalysts.Both synergy effect and high atomic utilization of active sites in the composite catalysts result in enhanced electrocatalytic performance,simultaneously provide a radical analysis of the interrelationship between structure and activity.In this review,the recent advances of single-atomic site catalysts coupled with clusters or nanoparticles are emphasized.Firstly,the synthetic strategies,characterization,dynamics and types of single atoms coupled with clusters/nanoparticles are introduced,and then the key factors controlling the structure of the composite catalysts are discussed.Next,several clean energy catalytic reactions performed over the synergistic composite catalysts are illustrated.Eventually,the encountering challenges and recommendations for the future advancement of synergistic structure in energy-transformation electrocatalysis are outlined.展开更多
Single atom catalysts(SACs) possessing regulated electronic structure, high atom utilization, and superior catalytic efficiency have been studied in almost all fields in recent years. Carbon-based supporting SACs are ...Single atom catalysts(SACs) possessing regulated electronic structure, high atom utilization, and superior catalytic efficiency have been studied in almost all fields in recent years. Carbon-based supporting SACs are becoming popular materials because of their low cost, high electron conductivity, and controllable surface property. At the stage of catalysts preparation, the rational design of active sites is necessary for the substantial improvement of activity of catalysts. To date, the reported design strategies are mainly about synthesis mechanism and synthetic method. The level of understanding of design strategies of carbon-based single atom catalysts is requiring deep to be paved. The design strategies about manufacturing defects and coordination modulation of catalysts are presented. The design strategies are easy to carry out in the process of drawing up preparation routes. The components of carbon-based SACs can be divided into two parts: active site and carbon skeleton. In this review, the manufacture of defects and coordination modulation of two parts are introduced, respectively. The structure features and design strategies from the active sites and carbon skeletons to the overall catalysts are deeply discussed.Then, the structural design of different nano-carbon SACs is introduced systematically. The characterization of active site and carbon skeleton and the detailed mechanism of reaction process are summarized and analyzed. Next, the applications in the field of electrocatalysis for oxygen conversion and hydrogen conversion are illustrated. The relationships between the superior performance and the structure of active sites or carbon skeletons are discussed. Finally, the conclusion of this review and prospects on the abundant space for further promotion in broader fields are depicted. This review highlights the design and preparation thoughts from the parts to the whole. The detailed and systematic discussion will provide useful guidance for design of SACs for readers.展开更多
Strategically designing the electrocatalytic system and cleverly inducing strain is an effective approach to balance the cost and activity of Pt-based electrocatalysts for industrial-scale hydrogen production.Herein,w...Strategically designing the electrocatalytic system and cleverly inducing strain is an effective approach to balance the cost and activity of Pt-based electrocatalysts for industrial-scale hydrogen production.Herein,we present a unipolar pulsed electrodeposition(UPED) strategy to induce strain in the Ni lattice by introducing trace amounts of Pt single atoms(SAs)(0.22 wt%).The overpotential decreased by 183 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2) in 1.0 M KOH after introducing trace amounts of Pt_(SAs).The industrial electrolyzer,assembled with Pt_(SAs)Ni cathode and a commercial NiFeO_(x) anode,requires a cell voltage of 1.90 V to attain 1 A cm^(-2) of current density and remains stable for 280 h,demonstrating significant potential for practical applications.Spherical aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(AC-STEM),X-ray absorption(XAS),and geometric phase analysis(GPA) indicate that the introduction of trace amounts of Pt SAs induces tensile strain in the Ni lattice,thereby altering the local electronic structure and coordination environment around cubic Ni for enhancing the water decomposition kinetics and fundamentally changing the reaction pathway.The doping-strain strategy showcases conformational relationships that could offer new ideas to construct efficient hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) electrocatalysts for industrial hydrogen production in the future.展开更多
Single-atom materials have demonstrated attractive physicochemical characteristics.However,understanding the relationships between the coordination environment of single atoms and their properties at the atomic level ...Single-atom materials have demonstrated attractive physicochemical characteristics.However,understanding the relationships between the coordination environment of single atoms and their properties at the atomic level remains a considerable challenge.Herein,a facile waterassisted carbonization approach is developed to fabricate well-defined asymmetrically coordinated Co–N_(4)–O sites on biomass-derived carbon nanofiber(Co–N_(4)–O/NCF)for electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption.In such nanofiber,one atomically dispersed Co site is coordinated with four N atoms in the graphene basal plane and one oxygen atom in the axial direction.In-depth experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the axial Co–O coordination breaks the charge distribution symmetry in the planar porphyrin-like Co–N_(4) structure,leading to significantly enhanced dielectric polarization loss relevant to the planar Co–N_(4) sites.Importantly,the film based on Co–N_(4)–O/NCF exhibits light weight,flexibility,excellent mechanical properties,great thermal insulating feature,and excellent EMW absorption with a reflection loss of−45.82 dB along with an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.8 GHz.The findings of this work offer insight into the relationships between the single-atom coordination environment and the dielectric performance,and the proposed strategy can be extended toward the engineering of asymmetrically coordinated single atoms for various applications.展开更多
The co-catalysis between single atom catalyst(SAC)and its support has recently emerged as a promising strategy to synergistically boost the catalytic activity of some complex electrochemical reactions,encompassing mul...The co-catalysis between single atom catalyst(SAC)and its support has recently emerged as a promising strategy to synergistically boost the catalytic activity of some complex electrochemical reactions,encompassing multiple intermediates and pathways.Herein,we utilized defective BC_(3)monolayer-supported SACs as a prototype to investigate the cooperative effects of SACs and their support on the catalytic performance of the nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)for ammonia(NH_(3))production.The results showed that these SACs can be firmly stabilized on these defective BC_(3)supports with high stability against aggregation.Furthermore,co-activation of the inert N_(2)reactant was observed in certain embedded SACs and their neighboring B atoms on certain BC3 sheets due to the noticeable charge transfer and significant N–N bond elongation.Our high-throughput screening revealed that the Mo/DV_(CC)and W/DV_(CC)exhibit superior NRR catalytic performance,characterized by a low limiting potential of−0.33 and−0.43 V,respectively,which can be further increased under acid conditions based on the constant potential method.Moreover,varying NRR catalytic activities can be attributed to the differences in the valence state of active sites.Remarkably,further microkinetic modeling analysis displayed that the turnover frequency of N_(2)–to–NH_(3)conversion on Mo/DV_(CC)is as large as 1.20×10^(−3)s^(−1)site^(−1) at 700 K and 100 bar,thus guaranteeing its ultra-fast reaction rate.Our results not only suggest promising advanced electrocatalysts for NRR but also offer an effective avenue to regulate the electrocatalytic performance via the co-catalytic metal–support interactions.展开更多
Single atom catalysts(SACs)have garnered significant attention in the field of catalysis over the past decade due to their exceptional atom utilization efficiency and distinct physical and chemical properties.For the ...Single atom catalysts(SACs)have garnered significant attention in the field of catalysis over the past decade due to their exceptional atom utilization efficiency and distinct physical and chemical properties.For the semiconductor-based electrical gas sensor,the core is the catalysis process of target gas molecules on the sensitive materials.In this context,the SACs offer great potential for highly sensitive and selective gas sensing,however,only some of the bubbles come to the surface.To facilitate practical applications,we present a comprehensive review of the preparation strategies for SACs,with a focus on overcoming the challenges of aggregation and low loading.Extensive research efforts have been devoted to investigating the gas sensing mechanism,exploring sensitive materials,optimizing device structures,and refining signal post-processing techniques.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives on the SACs based gas sensing are presented.展开更多
Utilizing single atom sites doping into metal oxides to modulate their intrinsic active sites,achieving precise selectivity control in complex organic reactions,is a highly desirable yet challenging endeavor.Meanwhile...Utilizing single atom sites doping into metal oxides to modulate their intrinsic active sites,achieving precise selectivity control in complex organic reactions,is a highly desirable yet challenging endeavor.Meanwhile,identifying the active site also represents a significant obstacle,primarily due to the intricate electronic environment of single atom site doped metal oxide.Herein,a single atom Cu doped TiO_(2)catalyst(Cu_(1)-TiO_(2)) is prepared via a simple“colloid-acid treatment”strategy,which switches aniline oxidation selectivity of TiO_(2) from azoxybenzene to nitrosobenzene,without using additives or changing solvent,while other metal or nonmetal doped TiO_(2) did not possess.Comprehensive mechanistic investigations and DFT calculations unveil that Ti-O active site is responsible for triggering the aniline to form a new PhNOH intermediate,two PhNOH condense to azoxybenzene over TiO_(2) catalyst.As for Cu_(1)-TiO_(2),the charge-specific distribution between the isolated Cu and TiO_(2) generates unique Cu_(1)-O-Ti hybridization structure with nine catalytic active sites,eight of them make PhNOH take place spontaneous dissociation to produce nitrosobenzene.This work not only unveils a new mechanistic pathway featuring the PhNOH intermediate in aniline oxidation for the first time but also presents a novel approach for constructing single-atom doped metal oxides and exploring their intricate active sites.展开更多
Single-atom(SA)catalysts with nearly 100%atom utilization have been widely employed in electrolysis for decades,due to the outperforming catalytic activity and selectivity.However,most of the reported SA catalysts are...Single-atom(SA)catalysts with nearly 100%atom utilization have been widely employed in electrolysis for decades,due to the outperforming catalytic activity and selectivity.However,most of the reported SA catalysts are fixed through the strong bonding between the dispersed single metallic atoms with nonmetallic atoms of the substrates,which greatly limits the controllable regulation of electrocatalytic activity of SA catalysts.In this work,Pt-Ni bonded Pt SA catalyst with adjustable electronic states was successfully constructed through a controllable electrochemical reduction on the coordination unsaturated amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)nanosheet arrays.Based on the X-ray absorption fine structure analysis and first-principles calculations,Pt SA was bonded with Ni sites of amorphous Ni(OH)_(2),rather than conventional O sites,resulting in negatively charged Pt^(δ-).In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the changed configuration and electronic states greatly enhanced absorbability for activated hydrogen atoms,which were the essential intermediate for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.The hydrogen spillover process was revealed from amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)that effectively cleave the H-O-H bond of H_(2)O and produce H atom to the Pt SA sites,leading to a low overpotential of 48 mV in alkaline electrolyte at-1000 mA cm^(-2)mg^(-1)_(Pt),evidently better than commercial Pt/C catalysts.This work provided new strategy for the control-lable modulation of the local structure of SA catalysts and the systematic regulation of the electronic states.展开更多
Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)are widely regarded as promising next-generation batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low material cost.However,the practical applications of LSBs are limited by ...Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)are widely regarded as promising next-generation batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low material cost.However,the practical applications of LSBs are limited by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs),electronic insulation of charge and discharge products,and slow LiPSs conversion reaction kinetics.Accordingly,the introduction of catalysts into LSBs is one of the effective strategy to solve the issues of the sluggished LiPS conversion.Because of their nearly 100%atom utilization and high electrocatalytic activity,single-atom catalysts(SACs)have been widely used as reaction mediators for LSBs’reactions.Excitingly,the SACs with asymmetric coordination structures have exhibited intriguing electronic structures and superior catalytic activities when compared to the traditional M-N_(4)active sites.In this review,we systematically describe the recent advancements in the installation of asymmetrically coordinated single-atom structure as reactions catalysts in LSBs,including asymmetrically nitrogen coordinated SACs,heteroatom coordinated SACs,support effective asymmetrically coordinated SACs,and bimetallic coordinated SACs.Particularly noteworthy is the discussion of the catalytic conversion mechanism of LiPSs spanning asymmetrically coordinated SACs.Finally,a perspective on the future developments of asymmetrically coordinated SACs in LSB applications is provided.展开更多
Developing the alternative supported noble metal catalysts with low cost,high catalytic efficiency,and good resistance toward carbon dioxide and water vapor is critically demanded for the oxidative removal of volatile...Developing the alternative supported noble metal catalysts with low cost,high catalytic efficiency,and good resistance toward carbon dioxide and water vapor is critically demanded for the oxidative removal of volatile organic compounds(VOCs).In this work,we prepared the mesoporous chromia-supported bimetallic Co and Ni single-atom(Co_(1)Ni_(1)/meso-Cr_(2)O_(3))and bimetallic Co and Ni nanoparticle(Co_(NP)Ni_(NP)/mesoCr_(2)O_(3))catalysts adopting the one-pot polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)-and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)-protecting approaches,respectively.The results indicate that the Co_(1)Ni_(1)/meso-Cr_(2)O_(3)catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity for n-hexane(C_(6)H_(14))combustion(T_(50%)and T_(90%)were 239 and 263℃ at a space velocity of 40,000 mL g^(-1)h^(-1);apparent activation energy and specific reaction rate at 260℃ were 54.7 kJ mol^(-1)and 4.3×10^(-7)mol g^(-1)_(cat)s^(-1),respectively),which was associated with its higher(Cr^(5+)+Cr^(6+))amount,large n-hexane adsorption capacity,and good lattice oxygen mobility that could enhance the deep oxidation of n-hexane,in which Ni_(1) was beneficial for the enhancements in surface lattice oxygen mobility and low-temperature reducibility,while Co_(1) preferred to generate higher contents of the high-valence states of chromium and surface oxygen species as well as adsorption and activation of n-hexane.n-Hexane combustion takes place via the Mars van Krevelen(MvK)mechanism,and its reaction pathways are as follows:n-hexane→olefins or 3-hexyl hydroperoxide→3-hexanone,2-hexanone or 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran→2-methyloxirane or 2-ethyl-oxetane→acrylic acid→CO_x→CO_(2)and H_(2)O.展开更多
This comprehensive review provides a deep exploration of the unique roles of single atom catalysts(SACs)in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))production.SACs offer multiple benefits over traditional catalysts...This comprehensive review provides a deep exploration of the unique roles of single atom catalysts(SACs)in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))production.SACs offer multiple benefits over traditional catalysts such as improved efficiency,selectivity,and flexibility due to their distinct electronic structure and unique properties.The review discusses the critical elements in the design of SACs,including the choice of metal atom,host material,and coordination environment,and how these elements impact the catalytic activity.The role of single atoms in photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production is also analysed,focusing on enhancing light absorption and charge generation,improving the migration and separation of charge carriers,and lowering the energy barrier of adsorption and activation of reactants.Despite these advantages,several challenges,including H_(2)O_(2)decomposition,stability of SACs,unclear mechanism,and low selectivity,need to be overcome.Looking towards the future,the review suggests promising research directions such as direct utilization of H_(2)O_(2),high-throughput synthesis and screening,the creation of dual active sites,and employing density functional theory for investigating the mechanisms of SACs in H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis.This review provides valuable insights into the potential of single atom catalysts for advancing the field of photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production.展开更多
Low‐temperature CO oxidation is important for both fundamental studies and practical applica‐tions. Supported gold catalysts are generally regarded as the most active catalysts for low‐temperature CO oxidation. The...Low‐temperature CO oxidation is important for both fundamental studies and practical applica‐tions. Supported gold catalysts are generally regarded as the most active catalysts for low‐temperature CO oxidation. The active sites are traditionally believed to be Au nanoclusters or nanoparticles in the size range of 0.5–5 nm. Only in the last few years have single‐atom Au catalysts been proved to be active for CO oxidation. Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical studies on single‐atom Au catalysts unambiguously demonstrated that when dispersed on suitable oxide supports the Au single atoms can be extremely active for CO oxidation. In this mini‐review, recent advances in the development of Au single‐atom catalysts are discussed, with the aim of illus‐trating their unique catalytic features during CO oxidation.展开更多
Based on our work on single cesium atoms trapped in a large-magnetic-gradient vapour-cell magneto-optical trap (MOT), the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is remarkably improved. Also a far-off-resonance optical dipole...Based on our work on single cesium atoms trapped in a large-magnetic-gradient vapour-cell magneto-optical trap (MOT), the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is remarkably improved. Also a far-off-resonance optical dipole trap (FORT) formed by a strongly-focused 1064 nm single frequency Nd:YVO4 laser beam is introduced. One cesium atom is prepared in the MOT, and then it can transfer successfully between the MOT and the FORT which is overlapped with the MOT. Utilizing the effective transfer, the lifetime of single atoms trapped in the FORT is measured to be 6.9± 0.3 s. Thus we provide a system where the atomic qubit can be coherently manipulated.展开更多
Lithium–sulfur batteries exhibit unparalleled merits in theoretical energy density(2600 W h kg^(-1))among next-generation storage systems.However,the sluggish electrochemical kinetics of sulfur reduction reactions,su...Lithium–sulfur batteries exhibit unparalleled merits in theoretical energy density(2600 W h kg^(-1))among next-generation storage systems.However,the sluggish electrochemical kinetics of sulfur reduction reactions,sulfide oxidation reactions in the sulfur cathode,and the lithium dendrite growth resulted from uncontrollable lithium behaviors in lithium anode have inhibited high-rate conversions and uniform deposition to achieve high performances.Thanks to the“adsorption-catalysis”synergetic effects,the reaction kinetics of sulfur reduction reactions/sulfide oxidation reactions composed of the delithiation of Li_(2)S and the interconversions of sulfur species are propelled by lowering the delithiation/diffusion energy barriers,inhibiting polysulfide shuttling.Meanwhile,the anodic plating kinetic behaviors modulated by the catalysts tend to uniformize without dendrite growth.In this review,the various active catalysts in modulating lithium behaviors are summarized,especially for the defect-rich catalysts and single atomic catalysts.The working mechanisms of these highly active catalysts revealed from theoretical simulation to in situ/operando characterizations are also highlighted.Furthermore,the opportunities of future higher performance enhancement to realize practical applications of lithium–sulfur batteries are prospected,shedding light on the future practical development.展开更多
Rechargeable aqueous zinc iodine(ZnǀǀI_(2))batteries have been promising energy storage technologies due to low-cost position and constitutional safety of zinc anode,iodine cathode and aqueous electrolytes.Whereas,on ...Rechargeable aqueous zinc iodine(ZnǀǀI_(2))batteries have been promising energy storage technologies due to low-cost position and constitutional safety of zinc anode,iodine cathode and aqueous electrolytes.Whereas,on one hand,the low-fraction utilization of electrochemically inert host causes severe shuttle of soluble polyiodides,deficient iodine utilization and sluggish reaction kinetics.On the other hand,the usage of high mass polar electrocatalysts occupies mass and volume of electrode materials and sacrifices device-level energy density.Here,we propose a“confinement-catalysis”host composed of Fe single atom catalyst embedding inside ordered mesoporous carbon host,which can effectively confine and catalytically convert I_(2)/I^(−)couple and polyiodide intermediates.Consequently,the cathode enables the high capacity of 188.2 mAh g^(−1)at 0.3 A g^(−1),excellent rate capability with a capacity of 139.6 mAh g^(−1)delivered at high current density of 15 A g^(−1)and ultra-long cyclic stability over 50,000 cycles with 80.5%initial capacity retained under high iodine loading of 76.72 wt%.Furthermore,the electrocatalytic host can also accelerate the I^(+)↔I_(2)conversion.The greatly improved electrochemical performance originates from the modulation of physicochemical confinement and the decrease of energy barrier for reversible I−/I_(2)and I_(2)/I^(+)couples,and polyiodide intermediates conversions.展开更多
ABSTRACT Rationally designing broad-spectrum photocatalysts to harvest whole visible-light region photons and enhance solar energy conversion is a“holy grail”for researchers,but is still a challenging issue.Herein,b...ABSTRACT Rationally designing broad-spectrum photocatalysts to harvest whole visible-light region photons and enhance solar energy conversion is a“holy grail”for researchers,but is still a challenging issue.Herein,based on the common polymeric carbon nitride(PCN),a hybrid co-catalysts system comprising plasmonic Au nanoparticles(NPs)and atomically dispersed Pt single atoms(PtSAs)with different functions was constructed to address this challenge.For the dual co-catalysts decorated PCN(PtSAs–Au_(2.5)/PCN),the PCN is photoexcited to generate electrons under UV and short-wavelength visible light,and the synergetic Au NPs and PtSAs not only accelerate charge separation and transfer though Schottky junctions and metal-support bond but also act as the co-catalysts for H_(2) evolution.Furthermore,the Au NPs absorb long-wavelength visible light owing to its localized surface plasmon resonance,and the adjacent PtSAs trap the plasmonic hot-electrons for H_(2) evolution via direct electron transfer effect.Consequently,the PtSAs–Au_(2.5)/PCN exhibits excellent broad-spectrum photocatalytic H_(2) evolution activity with the H_(2) evolution rate of 8.8 mmol g^(−1) h^(−1) at 420 nm and 264μmol g^(−1) h^(−1) at 550 nm,much higher than that of Au_(2.5)/PCN and PtSAs–PCN,respectively.This work provides a new strategy to design broad-spectrum photocatalysts for energy conversion reaction.展开更多
The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) on Pt-based catalysts is largely limited by the slow water dissociation kinetics. Pt-based single atom alloy catalysts(SAAC) with water dissociation sites have been demons...The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) on Pt-based catalysts is largely limited by the slow water dissociation kinetics. Pt-based single atom alloy catalysts(SAAC) with water dissociation sites have been demonstrated as excellent alkaline HER catalysts. However, the regulation of their activity and stability at the atomic scale is still a great challenge. Herein, the kinetic and stability issues are successfully resolved via engineering the electronic structure of Pt-Co SAAC by Au-induced tensile strain. The atomic dispersion of Co into the Pt shell was confirmed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure and the electronic structure and catalytic HER performance was modulated by the tensile strain induced by the Pt shell thickness. An inverse volcano-type relation between HER activity and surface strain was found.Density functional theory(DFT) calculations reveal that the Au-induced tensile strain on Pt-Co shell can not only boost the adsorption and dissociation kinetics of water at Co site by upshifting the dband and promoting the electron transfer, but also downshift the d-band center of Pt in Pt-Co shell, leading to optimized H* adsorption/desorption. The champion catalyst provides an overpotential of only 14 m V at the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2). This work not only provides an effective strategy for the construction of single-atom alloy electrocatalysts for high performance toward alkaline HER but also sheds light on the understanding of the reaction mechanism at the atomic level.展开更多
The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)hinders the commercialization of Zn‐air batteries(ZABs).Manipulating the electronic structure of electrocatalysts to optimize the adsorption energy of oxygen‐co...The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)hinders the commercialization of Zn‐air batteries(ZABs).Manipulating the electronic structure of electrocatalysts to optimize the adsorption energy of oxygen‐containing intermediates during the 4e–ORR offers a practical route toward improving ORR kinetics.Herein,we designed a novel ORR electrocatalyst containing Co single atoms and nanoparticles supported by carbon dots‐derived carbon nanoflowers(Co SAs/NPs CNF).Co SAs/NPs CNF possessed a very high ORR activity(E_(1/2) of the Co SAs/NPs CNF catalyst is 0.83 V(vs.RHE)),and outstanding catalytic performance and stability when used as the air‐electrode catalyst in rechargeable ZABs(152.32 mW cm^(-2),1000.58 mWh gZn^(–1),and over 1300 cycles at a current density of 5 mA cm^(-2)).The Co SAs and Co NPs cooperated to improve electron and proton transfer processes during ORR.Theoretical calculations revealed that the presence of adjacent Co NPs optimized the electronic structure of the isolated Co‐N_(4) sites,significantly lowering the energy barriers for the rate‐determining step in ORR(adsorption of*OOH)and thereby delivering outstanding ORR performance.This work reveals that the combination of supported single‐atom sites and metal nanoparticles can be highly beneficial for ORR electrocatalysis,outperforming catalysts containing only Co SAs or Co NPs.展开更多
By recording the fluorescence fraction of the cold atoms remaining in the magneto-optical trap (MOT) as a function of the release time, the release-and-recapture (R&R) method is utilized to evaluate the effective...By recording the fluorescence fraction of the cold atoms remaining in the magneto-optical trap (MOT) as a function of the release time, the release-and-recapture (R&R) method is utilized to evaluate the effective temperature of the cold atomic ensemble. We prepare a single atom in a large-magnetic-gradient MOT and then transfer the trapped single atom into a 1064-nm microscopic optical tweezer. The energy of the single atom trapped in the tweezer is further reduced by polarization gradient cooling (PGC) and the effective temperature is evaluated by extending the R-R technique to a single atom tweezer. The typical effective temperature of a single atom in the tweezer is improved from about 105 μK to about 17 μK by applying the optimum PGC phase.展开更多
Formaldehyde(HCHO) is a common indoor pollutant, long-term exposure to HCHO may harm human health. Its efficient removal at mild conditions is still challenging. The catalytic oxidation of HCHO molecules on a single a...Formaldehyde(HCHO) is a common indoor pollutant, long-term exposure to HCHO may harm human health. Its efficient removal at mild conditions is still challenging. The catalytic oxidation of HCHO molecules on a single atomic catalyst, Ti-decorated Ti3C2O2(Ti/Ti3C2O2) monolayer, is investigated by performing the first principles calculations in this work. It demonstrates that Ti atoms can be easily well dispersed at the form of single atom on Ti3C2O2 monolayer without aggregation. For HCHO catalytic oxidation, both Langmuir-Hinshelwood(LH) and Eley-Rideal(ER) mechanisms are considered. The results show that the step of HCHO dissociative adsorption on Ti/Ti3C2O2 with activated O2 can release high energy of 4.05 e V based on the ER mechanism, which can help to overcome the energy barrier(1.04 e V) of the subsequent reaction steps. The charge transfer from *OH group to CO molecule(dissociated from HCHO) not only promotes *OH group activation but also plays an important role in the H2 O generation along the ER mechanism. Therefore, HCHO can be oxidized easily on Ti/Ti3C2O2 monolayer, this work could provide significant guidance to develop effective non-noble metal catalysts for HCHO oxidation and broaden the applications of MXene-based materials.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22279036)the Innovation Talent Recruitment Base of New Energy Chemistry Device(B21003)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(no.2019kfyRCPY100).
文摘Combining single atoms with clusters or nanoparticles is an emerging tactic to design efficient electrocatalysts.Both synergy effect and high atomic utilization of active sites in the composite catalysts result in enhanced electrocatalytic performance,simultaneously provide a radical analysis of the interrelationship between structure and activity.In this review,the recent advances of single-atomic site catalysts coupled with clusters or nanoparticles are emphasized.Firstly,the synthetic strategies,characterization,dynamics and types of single atoms coupled with clusters/nanoparticles are introduced,and then the key factors controlling the structure of the composite catalysts are discussed.Next,several clean energy catalytic reactions performed over the synergistic composite catalysts are illustrated.Eventually,the encountering challenges and recommendations for the future advancement of synergistic structure in energy-transformation electrocatalysis are outlined.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22279118, 31901272, 21401168, U1204203)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young of China (No. 22225202)+1 种基金Young Top Talent Program of Zhongyuan-YingcaiJihua (No. 30602674)Top-Notch Talent Program of Henan Agricultural University (No. 30501034)。
文摘Single atom catalysts(SACs) possessing regulated electronic structure, high atom utilization, and superior catalytic efficiency have been studied in almost all fields in recent years. Carbon-based supporting SACs are becoming popular materials because of their low cost, high electron conductivity, and controllable surface property. At the stage of catalysts preparation, the rational design of active sites is necessary for the substantial improvement of activity of catalysts. To date, the reported design strategies are mainly about synthesis mechanism and synthetic method. The level of understanding of design strategies of carbon-based single atom catalysts is requiring deep to be paved. The design strategies about manufacturing defects and coordination modulation of catalysts are presented. The design strategies are easy to carry out in the process of drawing up preparation routes. The components of carbon-based SACs can be divided into two parts: active site and carbon skeleton. In this review, the manufacture of defects and coordination modulation of two parts are introduced, respectively. The structure features and design strategies from the active sites and carbon skeletons to the overall catalysts are deeply discussed.Then, the structural design of different nano-carbon SACs is introduced systematically. The characterization of active site and carbon skeleton and the detailed mechanism of reaction process are summarized and analyzed. Next, the applications in the field of electrocatalysis for oxygen conversion and hydrogen conversion are illustrated. The relationships between the superior performance and the structure of active sites or carbon skeletons are discussed. Finally, the conclusion of this review and prospects on the abundant space for further promotion in broader fields are depicted. This review highlights the design and preparation thoughts from the parts to the whole. The detailed and systematic discussion will provide useful guidance for design of SACs for readers.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants U22A20418, 22075196, and 21878204)Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China (2022-050)。
文摘Strategically designing the electrocatalytic system and cleverly inducing strain is an effective approach to balance the cost and activity of Pt-based electrocatalysts for industrial-scale hydrogen production.Herein,we present a unipolar pulsed electrodeposition(UPED) strategy to induce strain in the Ni lattice by introducing trace amounts of Pt single atoms(SAs)(0.22 wt%).The overpotential decreased by 183 mV at 10 mA cm^(-2) in 1.0 M KOH after introducing trace amounts of Pt_(SAs).The industrial electrolyzer,assembled with Pt_(SAs)Ni cathode and a commercial NiFeO_(x) anode,requires a cell voltage of 1.90 V to attain 1 A cm^(-2) of current density and remains stable for 280 h,demonstrating significant potential for practical applications.Spherical aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(AC-STEM),X-ray absorption(XAS),and geometric phase analysis(GPA) indicate that the introduction of trace amounts of Pt SAs induces tensile strain in the Ni lattice,thereby altering the local electronic structure and coordination environment around cubic Ni for enhancing the water decomposition kinetics and fundamentally changing the reaction pathway.The doping-strain strategy showcases conformational relationships that could offer new ideas to construct efficient hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) electrocatalysts for industrial hydrogen production in the future.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52372283)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2023M730826)+1 种基金Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund(Grant No.LBH-Z23121)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(Grant No.GZC20233425).
文摘Single-atom materials have demonstrated attractive physicochemical characteristics.However,understanding the relationships between the coordination environment of single atoms and their properties at the atomic level remains a considerable challenge.Herein,a facile waterassisted carbonization approach is developed to fabricate well-defined asymmetrically coordinated Co–N_(4)–O sites on biomass-derived carbon nanofiber(Co–N_(4)–O/NCF)for electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption.In such nanofiber,one atomically dispersed Co site is coordinated with four N atoms in the graphene basal plane and one oxygen atom in the axial direction.In-depth experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the axial Co–O coordination breaks the charge distribution symmetry in the planar porphyrin-like Co–N_(4) structure,leading to significantly enhanced dielectric polarization loss relevant to the planar Co–N_(4) sites.Importantly,the film based on Co–N_(4)–O/NCF exhibits light weight,flexibility,excellent mechanical properties,great thermal insulating feature,and excellent EMW absorption with a reflection loss of−45.82 dB along with an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.8 GHz.The findings of this work offer insight into the relationships between the single-atom coordination environment and the dielectric performance,and the proposed strategy can be extended toward the engineering of asymmetrically coordinated single atoms for various applications.
基金financially supported in China by the Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar of Heilongjiang Province (No. JC2018004)
文摘The co-catalysis between single atom catalyst(SAC)and its support has recently emerged as a promising strategy to synergistically boost the catalytic activity of some complex electrochemical reactions,encompassing multiple intermediates and pathways.Herein,we utilized defective BC_(3)monolayer-supported SACs as a prototype to investigate the cooperative effects of SACs and their support on the catalytic performance of the nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)for ammonia(NH_(3))production.The results showed that these SACs can be firmly stabilized on these defective BC_(3)supports with high stability against aggregation.Furthermore,co-activation of the inert N_(2)reactant was observed in certain embedded SACs and their neighboring B atoms on certain BC3 sheets due to the noticeable charge transfer and significant N–N bond elongation.Our high-throughput screening revealed that the Mo/DV_(CC)and W/DV_(CC)exhibit superior NRR catalytic performance,characterized by a low limiting potential of−0.33 and−0.43 V,respectively,which can be further increased under acid conditions based on the constant potential method.Moreover,varying NRR catalytic activities can be attributed to the differences in the valence state of active sites.Remarkably,further microkinetic modeling analysis displayed that the turnover frequency of N_(2)–to–NH_(3)conversion on Mo/DV_(CC)is as large as 1.20×10^(−3)s^(−1)site^(−1) at 700 K and 100 bar,thus guaranteeing its ultra-fast reaction rate.Our results not only suggest promising advanced electrocatalysts for NRR but also offer an effective avenue to regulate the electrocatalytic performance via the co-catalytic metal–support interactions.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB3204700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52122513)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(YQ2021E022)the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(2023NSCQ-MSX2286)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(HIT.BRET.2021010)。
文摘Single atom catalysts(SACs)have garnered significant attention in the field of catalysis over the past decade due to their exceptional atom utilization efficiency and distinct physical and chemical properties.For the semiconductor-based electrical gas sensor,the core is the catalysis process of target gas molecules on the sensitive materials.In this context,the SACs offer great potential for highly sensitive and selective gas sensing,however,only some of the bubbles come to the surface.To facilitate practical applications,we present a comprehensive review of the preparation strategies for SACs,with a focus on overcoming the challenges of aggregation and low loading.Extensive research efforts have been devoted to investigating the gas sensing mechanism,exploring sensitive materials,optimizing device structures,and refining signal post-processing techniques.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives on the SACs based gas sensing are presented.
文摘Utilizing single atom sites doping into metal oxides to modulate their intrinsic active sites,achieving precise selectivity control in complex organic reactions,is a highly desirable yet challenging endeavor.Meanwhile,identifying the active site also represents a significant obstacle,primarily due to the intricate electronic environment of single atom site doped metal oxide.Herein,a single atom Cu doped TiO_(2)catalyst(Cu_(1)-TiO_(2)) is prepared via a simple“colloid-acid treatment”strategy,which switches aniline oxidation selectivity of TiO_(2) from azoxybenzene to nitrosobenzene,without using additives or changing solvent,while other metal or nonmetal doped TiO_(2) did not possess.Comprehensive mechanistic investigations and DFT calculations unveil that Ti-O active site is responsible for triggering the aniline to form a new PhNOH intermediate,two PhNOH condense to azoxybenzene over TiO_(2) catalyst.As for Cu_(1)-TiO_(2),the charge-specific distribution between the isolated Cu and TiO_(2) generates unique Cu_(1)-O-Ti hybridization structure with nine catalytic active sites,eight of them make PhNOH take place spontaneous dissociation to produce nitrosobenzene.This work not only unveils a new mechanistic pathway featuring the PhNOH intermediate in aniline oxidation for the first time but also presents a novel approach for constructing single-atom doped metal oxides and exploring their intricate active sites.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(52373221,U1910208,52250119)the National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFA0710403)the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department(NO.23B0114).
文摘Single-atom(SA)catalysts with nearly 100%atom utilization have been widely employed in electrolysis for decades,due to the outperforming catalytic activity and selectivity.However,most of the reported SA catalysts are fixed through the strong bonding between the dispersed single metallic atoms with nonmetallic atoms of the substrates,which greatly limits the controllable regulation of electrocatalytic activity of SA catalysts.In this work,Pt-Ni bonded Pt SA catalyst with adjustable electronic states was successfully constructed through a controllable electrochemical reduction on the coordination unsaturated amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)nanosheet arrays.Based on the X-ray absorption fine structure analysis and first-principles calculations,Pt SA was bonded with Ni sites of amorphous Ni(OH)_(2),rather than conventional O sites,resulting in negatively charged Pt^(δ-).In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the changed configuration and electronic states greatly enhanced absorbability for activated hydrogen atoms,which were the essential intermediate for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.The hydrogen spillover process was revealed from amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)that effectively cleave the H-O-H bond of H_(2)O and produce H atom to the Pt SA sites,leading to a low overpotential of 48 mV in alkaline electrolyte at-1000 mA cm^(-2)mg^(-1)_(Pt),evidently better than commercial Pt/C catalysts.This work provided new strategy for the control-lable modulation of the local structure of SA catalysts and the systematic regulation of the electronic states.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.22108133,51972180)Science,Education and Industry Integration of Basic Research Projects of Qilu University of Technology(Grant No.2022PY062,2023PY034,2023PY022)
文摘Lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)are widely regarded as promising next-generation batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low material cost.However,the practical applications of LSBs are limited by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs),electronic insulation of charge and discharge products,and slow LiPSs conversion reaction kinetics.Accordingly,the introduction of catalysts into LSBs is one of the effective strategy to solve the issues of the sluggished LiPS conversion.Because of their nearly 100%atom utilization and high electrocatalytic activity,single-atom catalysts(SACs)have been widely used as reaction mediators for LSBs’reactions.Excitingly,the SACs with asymmetric coordination structures have exhibited intriguing electronic structures and superior catalytic activities when compared to the traditional M-N_(4)active sites.In this review,we systematically describe the recent advancements in the installation of asymmetrically coordinated single-atom structure as reactions catalysts in LSBs,including asymmetrically nitrogen coordinated SACs,heteroatom coordinated SACs,support effective asymmetrically coordinated SACs,and bimetallic coordinated SACs.Particularly noteworthy is the discussion of the catalytic conversion mechanism of LiPSs spanning asymmetrically coordinated SACs.Finally,a perspective on the future developments of asymmetrically coordinated SACs in LSB applications is provided.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Committee of China-Liaoning Provincial People's Government Joint Fund(U1908204)National Natural Science Foundation of China(21876006,21976009,and 21961160743)+2 种基金Foundation on the Creative Research Team Construction Promotion Project of Beijing Municipal Institutions(IDHT20190503)Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education(KM201710005004)Development Program for the Youth Outstanding-Notch Talent of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education(CIT&TCD201904019)。
文摘Developing the alternative supported noble metal catalysts with low cost,high catalytic efficiency,and good resistance toward carbon dioxide and water vapor is critically demanded for the oxidative removal of volatile organic compounds(VOCs).In this work,we prepared the mesoporous chromia-supported bimetallic Co and Ni single-atom(Co_(1)Ni_(1)/meso-Cr_(2)O_(3))and bimetallic Co and Ni nanoparticle(Co_(NP)Ni_(NP)/mesoCr_(2)O_(3))catalysts adopting the one-pot polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)-and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)-protecting approaches,respectively.The results indicate that the Co_(1)Ni_(1)/meso-Cr_(2)O_(3)catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity for n-hexane(C_(6)H_(14))combustion(T_(50%)and T_(90%)were 239 and 263℃ at a space velocity of 40,000 mL g^(-1)h^(-1);apparent activation energy and specific reaction rate at 260℃ were 54.7 kJ mol^(-1)and 4.3×10^(-7)mol g^(-1)_(cat)s^(-1),respectively),which was associated with its higher(Cr^(5+)+Cr^(6+))amount,large n-hexane adsorption capacity,and good lattice oxygen mobility that could enhance the deep oxidation of n-hexane,in which Ni_(1) was beneficial for the enhancements in surface lattice oxygen mobility and low-temperature reducibility,while Co_(1) preferred to generate higher contents of the high-valence states of chromium and surface oxygen species as well as adsorption and activation of n-hexane.n-Hexane combustion takes place via the Mars van Krevelen(MvK)mechanism,and its reaction pathways are as follows:n-hexane→olefins or 3-hexyl hydroperoxide→3-hexanone,2-hexanone or 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran→2-methyloxirane or 2-ethyl-oxetane→acrylic acid→CO_x→CO_(2)and H_(2)O.
基金This work was financially supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2020A1515010982)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21805191)+2 种基金Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(JCYJ20210324094000001,20190808142001745,20200812122947002)Shenzhen Peacock Plan(20210802524B and 20180921273B)the Australian Research Council(FT200100015)。
文摘This comprehensive review provides a deep exploration of the unique roles of single atom catalysts(SACs)in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))production.SACs offer multiple benefits over traditional catalysts such as improved efficiency,selectivity,and flexibility due to their distinct electronic structure and unique properties.The review discusses the critical elements in the design of SACs,including the choice of metal atom,host material,and coordination environment,and how these elements impact the catalytic activity.The role of single atoms in photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production is also analysed,focusing on enhancing light absorption and charge generation,improving the migration and separation of charge carriers,and lowering the energy barrier of adsorption and activation of reactants.Despite these advantages,several challenges,including H_(2)O_(2)decomposition,stability of SACs,unclear mechanism,and low selectivity,need to be overcome.Looking towards the future,the review suggests promising research directions such as direct utilization of H_(2)O_(2),high-throughput synthesis and screening,the creation of dual active sites,and employing density functional theory for investigating the mechanisms of SACs in H_(2)O_(2)photosynthesis.This review provides valuable insights into the potential of single atom catalysts for advancing the field of photocatalytic H_(2)O_(2)production.
文摘Low‐temperature CO oxidation is important for both fundamental studies and practical applica‐tions. Supported gold catalysts are generally regarded as the most active catalysts for low‐temperature CO oxidation. The active sites are traditionally believed to be Au nanoclusters or nanoparticles in the size range of 0.5–5 nm. Only in the last few years have single‐atom Au catalysts been proved to be active for CO oxidation. Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical studies on single‐atom Au catalysts unambiguously demonstrated that when dispersed on suitable oxide supports the Au single atoms can be extremely active for CO oxidation. In this mini‐review, recent advances in the development of Au single‐atom catalysts are discussed, with the aim of illus‐trating their unique catalytic features during CO oxidation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 60578018 and 10434080)the project for excellent research team from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 60821004)+4 种基金the Program for New Century Excellent Talents of the Education Ministry of China (Grant No NCET-07-0524)the State Basic Key Research Program of China (Grant No 2006CB921102)the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(Grant No 20070108003)the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province,China (Grant No 2007011003)the Scientific Research Funds for Returned Scholars Abroad of Shanxi Province,China
文摘Based on our work on single cesium atoms trapped in a large-magnetic-gradient vapour-cell magneto-optical trap (MOT), the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is remarkably improved. Also a far-off-resonance optical dipole trap (FORT) formed by a strongly-focused 1064 nm single frequency Nd:YVO4 laser beam is introduced. One cesium atom is prepared in the MOT, and then it can transfer successfully between the MOT and the FORT which is overlapped with the MOT. Utilizing the effective transfer, the lifetime of single atoms trapped in the FORT is measured to be 6.9± 0.3 s. Thus we provide a system where the atomic qubit can be coherently manipulated.
基金fellowship funding supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundationfinancial funding support from the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK.20210636)Natural Science Foundation of China(21773294 and 21972164)。
文摘Lithium–sulfur batteries exhibit unparalleled merits in theoretical energy density(2600 W h kg^(-1))among next-generation storage systems.However,the sluggish electrochemical kinetics of sulfur reduction reactions,sulfide oxidation reactions in the sulfur cathode,and the lithium dendrite growth resulted from uncontrollable lithium behaviors in lithium anode have inhibited high-rate conversions and uniform deposition to achieve high performances.Thanks to the“adsorption-catalysis”synergetic effects,the reaction kinetics of sulfur reduction reactions/sulfide oxidation reactions composed of the delithiation of Li_(2)S and the interconversions of sulfur species are propelled by lowering the delithiation/diffusion energy barriers,inhibiting polysulfide shuttling.Meanwhile,the anodic plating kinetic behaviors modulated by the catalysts tend to uniformize without dendrite growth.In this review,the various active catalysts in modulating lithium behaviors are summarized,especially for the defect-rich catalysts and single atomic catalysts.The working mechanisms of these highly active catalysts revealed from theoretical simulation to in situ/operando characterizations are also highlighted.Furthermore,the opportunities of future higher performance enhancement to realize practical applications of lithium–sulfur batteries are prospected,shedding light on the future practical development.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project(2020YFC1521900 and 2020YFC1521904)the Shaanxi Provincial Science Foundation(2021GXLH-01-11)+1 种基金We would also like to thank National Natural Science Foundation of China(52202299)Analytical&Testing Center of Northwestern Polytechnical University(2022T006).
文摘Rechargeable aqueous zinc iodine(ZnǀǀI_(2))batteries have been promising energy storage technologies due to low-cost position and constitutional safety of zinc anode,iodine cathode and aqueous electrolytes.Whereas,on one hand,the low-fraction utilization of electrochemically inert host causes severe shuttle of soluble polyiodides,deficient iodine utilization and sluggish reaction kinetics.On the other hand,the usage of high mass polar electrocatalysts occupies mass and volume of electrode materials and sacrifices device-level energy density.Here,we propose a“confinement-catalysis”host composed of Fe single atom catalyst embedding inside ordered mesoporous carbon host,which can effectively confine and catalytically convert I_(2)/I^(−)couple and polyiodide intermediates.Consequently,the cathode enables the high capacity of 188.2 mAh g^(−1)at 0.3 A g^(−1),excellent rate capability with a capacity of 139.6 mAh g^(−1)delivered at high current density of 15 A g^(−1)and ultra-long cyclic stability over 50,000 cycles with 80.5%initial capacity retained under high iodine loading of 76.72 wt%.Furthermore,the electrocatalytic host can also accelerate the I^(+)↔I_(2)conversion.The greatly improved electrochemical performance originates from the modulation of physicochemical confinement and the decrease of energy barrier for reversible I−/I_(2)and I_(2)/I^(+)couples,and polyiodide intermediates conversions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51871078 and 52071119)Interdisciplinary Research Foundation of HIT(Grant No.IR2021208)+1 种基金State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment(Harbin Institute of Technology)(No.2022TS38)Heilongjiang Science Foundation(No.LH2020B006).
文摘ABSTRACT Rationally designing broad-spectrum photocatalysts to harvest whole visible-light region photons and enhance solar energy conversion is a“holy grail”for researchers,but is still a challenging issue.Herein,based on the common polymeric carbon nitride(PCN),a hybrid co-catalysts system comprising plasmonic Au nanoparticles(NPs)and atomically dispersed Pt single atoms(PtSAs)with different functions was constructed to address this challenge.For the dual co-catalysts decorated PCN(PtSAs–Au_(2.5)/PCN),the PCN is photoexcited to generate electrons under UV and short-wavelength visible light,and the synergetic Au NPs and PtSAs not only accelerate charge separation and transfer though Schottky junctions and metal-support bond but also act as the co-catalysts for H_(2) evolution.Furthermore,the Au NPs absorb long-wavelength visible light owing to its localized surface plasmon resonance,and the adjacent PtSAs trap the plasmonic hot-electrons for H_(2) evolution via direct electron transfer effect.Consequently,the PtSAs–Au_(2.5)/PCN exhibits excellent broad-spectrum photocatalytic H_(2) evolution activity with the H_(2) evolution rate of 8.8 mmol g^(−1) h^(−1) at 420 nm and 264μmol g^(−1) h^(−1) at 550 nm,much higher than that of Au_(2.5)/PCN and PtSAs–PCN,respectively.This work provides a new strategy to design broad-spectrum photocatalysts for energy conversion reaction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2032151)the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFB1502600)+1 种基金the Basic Research and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangzhou (B3210580)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (B6211050)。
文摘The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) on Pt-based catalysts is largely limited by the slow water dissociation kinetics. Pt-based single atom alloy catalysts(SAAC) with water dissociation sites have been demonstrated as excellent alkaline HER catalysts. However, the regulation of their activity and stability at the atomic scale is still a great challenge. Herein, the kinetic and stability issues are successfully resolved via engineering the electronic structure of Pt-Co SAAC by Au-induced tensile strain. The atomic dispersion of Co into the Pt shell was confirmed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure and the electronic structure and catalytic HER performance was modulated by the tensile strain induced by the Pt shell thickness. An inverse volcano-type relation between HER activity and surface strain was found.Density functional theory(DFT) calculations reveal that the Au-induced tensile strain on Pt-Co shell can not only boost the adsorption and dissociation kinetics of water at Co site by upshifting the dband and promoting the electron transfer, but also downshift the d-band center of Pt in Pt-Co shell, leading to optimized H* adsorption/desorption. The champion catalyst provides an overpotential of only 14 m V at the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2). This work not only provides an effective strategy for the construction of single-atom alloy electrocatalysts for high performance toward alkaline HER but also sheds light on the understanding of the reaction mechanism at the atomic level.
文摘The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)hinders the commercialization of Zn‐air batteries(ZABs).Manipulating the electronic structure of electrocatalysts to optimize the adsorption energy of oxygen‐containing intermediates during the 4e–ORR offers a practical route toward improving ORR kinetics.Herein,we designed a novel ORR electrocatalyst containing Co single atoms and nanoparticles supported by carbon dots‐derived carbon nanoflowers(Co SAs/NPs CNF).Co SAs/NPs CNF possessed a very high ORR activity(E_(1/2) of the Co SAs/NPs CNF catalyst is 0.83 V(vs.RHE)),and outstanding catalytic performance and stability when used as the air‐electrode catalyst in rechargeable ZABs(152.32 mW cm^(-2),1000.58 mWh gZn^(–1),and over 1300 cycles at a current density of 5 mA cm^(-2)).The Co SAs and Co NPs cooperated to improve electron and proton transfer processes during ORR.Theoretical calculations revealed that the presence of adjacent Co NPs optimized the electronic structure of the isolated Co‐N_(4) sites,significantly lowering the energy barriers for the rate‐determining step in ORR(adsorption of*OOH)and thereby delivering outstanding ORR performance.This work reveals that the combination of supported single‐atom sites and metal nanoparticles can be highly beneficial for ORR electrocatalysis,outperforming catalysts containing only Co SAs or Co NPs.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.60978017,61078051 and 10974125)the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.60821004)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No.NCET-07-0524)
文摘By recording the fluorescence fraction of the cold atoms remaining in the magneto-optical trap (MOT) as a function of the release time, the release-and-recapture (R&R) method is utilized to evaluate the effective temperature of the cold atomic ensemble. We prepare a single atom in a large-magnetic-gradient MOT and then transfer the trapped single atom into a 1064-nm microscopic optical tweezer. The energy of the single atom trapped in the tweezer is further reduced by polarization gradient cooling (PGC) and the effective temperature is evaluated by extending the R-R technique to a single atom tweezer. The typical effective temperature of a single atom in the tweezer is improved from about 105 μK to about 17 μK by applying the optimum PGC phase.
文摘Formaldehyde(HCHO) is a common indoor pollutant, long-term exposure to HCHO may harm human health. Its efficient removal at mild conditions is still challenging. The catalytic oxidation of HCHO molecules on a single atomic catalyst, Ti-decorated Ti3C2O2(Ti/Ti3C2O2) monolayer, is investigated by performing the first principles calculations in this work. It demonstrates that Ti atoms can be easily well dispersed at the form of single atom on Ti3C2O2 monolayer without aggregation. For HCHO catalytic oxidation, both Langmuir-Hinshelwood(LH) and Eley-Rideal(ER) mechanisms are considered. The results show that the step of HCHO dissociative adsorption on Ti/Ti3C2O2 with activated O2 can release high energy of 4.05 e V based on the ER mechanism, which can help to overcome the energy barrier(1.04 e V) of the subsequent reaction steps. The charge transfer from *OH group to CO molecule(dissociated from HCHO) not only promotes *OH group activation but also plays an important role in the H2 O generation along the ER mechanism. Therefore, HCHO can be oxidized easily on Ti/Ti3C2O2 monolayer, this work could provide significant guidance to develop effective non-noble metal catalysts for HCHO oxidation and broaden the applications of MXene-based materials.