Remote Synergy between Heterogeneous Single Atoms and Clusters for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Integrating single atoms and clusters into catalytic systems is a promising strategy for enhanced performance.
• Heterogeneous single-atom cluster catalysts offer advantages over homogeneous systems but face challenges in construction and mechanistic understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel heterogeneous single-atom cluster catalyst for efficient oxygen evolution.
• To investigate the synergistic mechanism between different species in enhancing catalytic activity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a heterogeneous single-atom cluster catalyst (Co-Ir/N-C).
• Characterization of the catalyst's structure and composition.
• Electrochemical evaluation of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance.

Main Results:

• The Co-Ir/N-C catalyst demonstrated significantly improved oxygen evolution activity compared to Co clusters alone.
• A synergistic interaction between Ir single atoms and Co clusters was observed at approximately 8 Å.
• The catalyst exhibited a lower overpotential (107 mV less) and higher turnover frequency (50.9 times) for OER.

Conclusions:

• Heterogeneous single-atom cluster catalysts can be effectively constructed to achieve superior catalytic performance.
• The synergy between single atoms and clusters is crucial for optimizing intermediate configurations and boosting activity.
• The developed Co-Ir/N-C catalyst represents a promising advancement for efficient oxygen evolution.