Construction of Single-Atom Platinum Catalysts Enabled by CsPbBr₃ Nanocrystals

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbX₃ NCs) have been regarded as promising materials in photocatalysis. Combining metal single atoms with CsPbX₃ NCs may be a practical way in exploring perovskite-based catalysts. However, such hybrids have not been achieved experimentally yet, mainly due to the weak interaction between the metal atom and the CsPbX₃ surface. Here, we demonstrate that Pt single atoms can be deposited on CsPbBr₃ NCs through a photoassisted approach, in which the surface was partially oxidized first, followed by the anchoring of Pt single atoms through the formation of Pt-O and Pt-Br bonds. The deposition of Pt single atoms can significantly change the photophysical properties of CsPbBr₃ NCs by inducing the generation of deep trap states in the band gap. The as-prepared Pt-SA/CsPbBr₃ can be used as efficient and durable catalysts for photocatalytic semi-hydrogenation of propyne. A CsPbBr₃ nanocrystal might be a suitable substrate for anchoring other metal single atoms, such as Cu, Au, Ag, Pd, and so on.