Small,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
18(2)
Published: Nov. 20, 2021
Single-atom
catalysts
(SACs)
are
attractive
candidates
for
oxygen
reduction
reaction
(ORR).
The
catalytic
performances
of
SACs
mainly
determined
by
the
surrounding
microenvironment
single
metal
sites.
Microenvironment
engineering
and
understanding
structure-activity
relationship
is
critical,
which
remains
challenging.
Herein,
a
self-sacrificing
strategy
developed
to
synthesize
asymmetric
N,S-coordinated
single-atom
Fe
with
axial
fifth
hydroxy
(OH)
coordination
(Fe-N3
S1
OH)
embedded
in
N,S
codoped
porous
carbon
nanospheres
(FeN/SC).
Such
unique
penta-coordination
cutting-edge
techonologies
aiding
systematic
simulations.
as-obtained
FeN/SC
exhibits
superior
ORR
activity,
showcases
half-wave
potential
0.882
V
surpassing
benchmark
Pt/C.
Moreover,
theoretical
calculations
confirmed
OH
FeN3
can
optimize
3d
orbitals
center
strengthen
O2
adsorption
enhance
activation
on
site,
thus
reducing
barrier
accelerating
dynamics.
Furthermore,
containing
H2
O2
fuel
cell
performs
high
peak
power
density
512
mW
cm-2
,
based
Znair
batteries
show
203
49
liquid
flexible
all-solid-state
configurations,
respectively.
This
study
offers
new
platform
fundamentally
understand
asymmetrical
planar
sites
electrocatalysis.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
61(12)
Published: Jan. 7, 2022
Herein,
a
novel
dual
single-atom
catalyst
comprising
adjacent
Fe-N4
and
Mn-N4
sites
on
2D
ultrathin
N-doped
carbon
nanosheets
with
porous
structure
(FeMn-DSAC)
was
constructed
as
the
cathode
for
flexible
low-temperature
Zn-air
battery
(ZAB).
FeMn-DSAC
exhibits
remarkable
bifunctional
activities
oxygen
reduction
reaction
(ORR)
evolution
(OER).
Control
experiments
density
functional
theory
calculations
reveal
that
catalytic
activity
arises
from
cooperative
effect
of
Fe/Mn
dual-sites
aiding
*OOH
dissociation
well
nanosheet
promoting
active
sits
exposure
mass
transfer
during
process.
The
excellent
enables
ZAB
to
operate
efficiently
at
ultra-low
temperature
-40
°C,
delivering
30
mW
cm-2
peak
power
retaining
up
86
%
specific
capacity
room
counterpart.
Chemical Reviews,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
123(9), P. 6257 - 6358
Published: March 21, 2023
The
oxygen
evolution
reaction
(OER)
and
reduction
(ORR)
are
core
steps
of
various
energy
conversion
storage
systems.
However,
their
sluggish
kinetics,
i.e.,
the
demanding
multielectron
transfer
processes,
still
render
OER/ORR
catalysts
less
efficient
for
practical
applications.
Moreover,
complexity
catalyst–electrolyte
interface
makes
a
comprehensive
understanding
intrinsic
mechanisms
challenging.
Fortunately,
recent
advances
in
situ/operando
characterization
techniques
have
facilitated
kinetic
monitoring
under
conditions.
Here
we
provide
selected
highlights
mechanistic
studies
with
main
emphasis
placed
on
heterogeneous
systems
(primarily
discussing
first-row
transition
metals
which
operate
basic
conditions),
followed
by
brief
outlook
molecular
catalysts.
Key
sections
this
review
focused
determination
true
active
species,
identification
sites,
reactive
intermediates.
For
in-depth
insights
into
above
factors,
short
overview
metrics
accurate
characterizations
is
provided.
A
combination
obtained
time-resolved
information
reliable
activity
data
will
then
guide
rational
design
new
Strategies
such
as
optimizing
restructuring
process
well
overcoming
adsorption-energy
scaling
relations
be
discussed.
Finally,
pending
current
challenges
prospects
toward
development
homogeneous
presented.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13(1)
Published: May 26, 2022
Simultaneously
increasing
the
activity
and
stability
of
single-atom
active
sites
M-N-C
catalysts
is
critical
but
remains
a
great
challenge.
Here,
we
report
an
Fe-N-C
catalyst
with
nitrogen-coordinated
iron
clusters
closely
surrounding
Fe-N4
for
oxygen
reduction
reaction
in
acidic
fuel
cells.
A
strong
electronic
interaction
built
between
satellite
due
to
unblocked
electron
transfer
pathways
very
short
interacting
distances.
The
optimize
adsorption
strength
intermediates
on
also
shorten
bond
amplitude
incoherent
vibrations.
As
result,
both
are
increased
by
about
60%
terms
turnover
frequency
demetalation
resistance.
This
work
shows
potential
interactions
multiphase
metal
species
improvements
catalysts.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13(1)
Published: Sept. 10, 2022
Electrocatalytic
urea
synthesis
emerged
as
the
promising
alternative
of
Haber-Bosch
process
and
industrial
synthetic
protocol.
Here,
we
report
that
a
diatomic
catalyst
with
bonded
Fe-Ni
pairs
can
significantly
improve
efficiency
electrochemical
synthesis.
Compared
isolated
single-atom
catalysts,
act
efficient
sites
for
coordinated
adsorption
activation
multiple
reactants,
enhancing
crucial
C-N
coupling
thermodynamically
kinetically.
The
performance
up
to
an
order
magnitude
higher
than
those
electrocatalysts,
high
yield
rate
20.2
mmol
h-1
g-1
corresponding
Faradaic
17.8%
has
been
successfully
achieved.
A
total
about
100%
formation
value-added
urea,
CO,
NH3
was
realized.
This
work
presents
insight
into
synergistic
catalysis
towards
sustainable
via
identifying
tailoring
atomic
site
configurations.
Chemical Society Reviews,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
51(23), P. 9620 - 9693
Published: Jan. 1, 2022
The
key
components,
working
management,
and
operating
techniques
of
anion-exchange
membrane
water
electrolyzers
fuel
cells
are
reviewed
for
the
first
time.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
8(17)
Published: April 29, 2022
Single-atom
catalysts
(SACs)
include
a
promising
family
of
electrocatalysts
with
unique
geometric
structures.
Beyond
conventional
ones
fully
isolated
metal
sites,
an
emerging
class
the
adjacent
single
atoms
exhibiting
intersite
metal-metal
interactions
appear
in
recent
years
and
can
be
denoted
as
correlated
SACs
(C-SACs).
This
type
provides
more
opportunities
to
achieve
substantial
structural
modification
performance
enhancement
toward
wider
range
electrocatalytic
applications.
On
basis
clear
identification
interactions,
this
review
critically
examines
research
progress
C-SACs.
It
shows
that
control
enables
regulation
atomic
structure,
local
coordination,
electronic
properties
atoms,
which
facilitate
modulation
behavior
Last,
we
outline
directions
for
future
work
design
development
C-SACs,
is
indispensable
creating
high-performing
new
SAC
architectures.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
145(11), P. 6471 - 6479
Published: March 10, 2023
Electroreduction
of
nitrate
to
ammonia
offers
a
promising
pathway
for
nutrient
recycling
and
recovery
from
wastewater
with
energy
environmental
sustainability.
There
have
been
considerable
efforts
on
the
regulation
reaction
pathways
facilitate
nitrate-to-ammonia
conversion
over
competing
hydrogen
evolution
but
only
limited
success.
Here,
we
report
Cu
single-atom
gel
(Cu
SAG)
electrocatalyst
that
produces
NH3
both
nitrite
under
neutral
conditions.
Given
unique
mechanism
NO2-
activation
SAGs
spatial
confinement
strengthened
kinetics,
pulse
electrolysis
strategy
is
presented
cascade
accumulation
intermediates
during
NO3-
reduction
prohibited
competition
reaction,
thus
substantially
enhancing
Faradaic
efficiency
yield
rate
production
compared
constant
potential
electrolysis.
This
work
underlines
cooperative
approach
three-dimensional
(3D)
framework
structures
highly
efficient
enabled
by
tandem
catalysis
unfavorable
intermediates.
Advanced Materials,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
34(36)
Published: July 16, 2022
Nitrate
electrocatalytic
reduction
(NO3
RR)
for
ammonia
production
is
a
promising
strategy
to
close
the
N-cycle
from
nitration
contamination,
as
well
an
alternative
Haber-Bosch
process
with
less
energy
consumption
and
carbon
dioxide
release.
However,
current
long-term
stability
of
NO3
RR
catalysts
usually
tens
hours,
far
requirements
industrialization.
Here,
symmetry-broken
Cusingle-atom
are
designed,
catalytic
activity
retained
after
operation
more
than
2000
h,
while
average
rate
27.84
mg
h-1
cm-2
at
industrial
level
density
366
mA
achieved,
obtaining
good
balance
between
stability.
Coordination
symmetry
breaking
achieved
by
embedding
one
Cu
atom
in
graphene
nanosheets
two
N
O
atoms
cis-configuration,
effectively
lowering
coordination
symmetry,
rendering
active
site
polar,
accumulating
NO3-
near
electrocatalyst
surface.
Additionally,
cis-coordination
splits
3d
orbitals,
which
generates
orbital-symmetry-matched
π-complex
key
intermediate
*ONH
reduces
barrier,
compared
σ-complex
generated
other
catalysts.
These
results
reveal
critical
role
single-atom
catalysts,
prompting
design
coordination-symmetry-broken
electrocatalysts
toward
possible
ACS Energy Letters,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
7(2), P. 640 - 649
Published: Jan. 14, 2022
Electrochemical
reduction
of
CO2
(CO2RR)
provides
an
attractive
pathway
to
achieve
a
carbon-neutral
energy
cycle.
Single-atom
catalysts
(SAC)
have
shown
unique
potential
in
heterogeneous
catalysis,
but
their
structural
simplicity
prevents
them
from
breaking
linear
scaling
relationships.
In
this
study,
we
develop
feasible
strategy
precisely
construct
series
electrocatalysts
featuring
well-defined
single-atom
and
dual-site
iron
anchored
on
nitrogen-doped
carbon
matrix
(Fe1–N–C
Fe2–N–C).
The
Fe2–N–C
dual-atom
electrocatalyst
(DAC)
achieves
enhanced
CO
Faradaic
efficiency
above
80%
wider
applied
ranges
along
with
higher
turnover
frequency
(26,637
h–1)
better
durability
compared
SAC
counterparts.
Furthermore,
based
in-depth
experimental
theoretical
analysis,
the
orbital
coupling
between
dual
sites
decreases
gap
antibonding
bonding
states
*CO
adsorption.
This
research
presents
new
insights
into
structure–performance
relationship
CO2RR
at
atomic
scale
extends
application
DACs
for
electrocatalysis
beyond.