Selectively anchoring single atoms on specific sites of supports for improved oxygen evolution

The homogeneity of single-atom catalysts is only to the first-order approximation when all isolated metal centers interact identically with the support. Since the realistic support with various topologies or defects offers diverse coordination environments, realizing real homogeneity requires precise control over the anchoring sites. In this work, we selectively anchor Ir single atoms onto the three-fold hollow sites (Ir₁/T_O-CoOOH) and oxygen vacancies (Ir₁/V_O-CoOOH) on defective CoOOH surface to investigate how the anchoring sites modulate catalytic performance. The oxygen evolution activities of Ir₁/T_O-CoOOH and Ir₁/V_O-CoOOH are improved relative to CoOOH through different mechanisms. For Ir₁/T_O-CoOOH, the strong electronic interaction between single-atom Ir and the support modifies the electronic structure of the active center for stronger electronic affinity to intermediates. For Ir₁/V_O-CoOOH, a hydrogen bonding is formed between the coordinated oxygen of single-atom Ir center and the oxygenated intermediates, which stabilizes the intermediates and lowers the energy barrier of the rate-determining step.