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Molecular Recognition Regulates Coordination Structure of Single-Atom Sites
Chang-Xin Zhao1, Xinyan Liu2, Jia-Ning Liu1
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|October 18, 2023
Summary
A novel molecular recognition strategy precisely controls the atomic structure of single-atom sites. This method introduces heteroatoms, like sulfur in iron single-atom sites, enhancing electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reactions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Single-atom sites are crucial for catalysis, but their synthesis with controlled coordination structures remains challenging.
- Tailoring the local coordination environment of single-atom sites is key to optimizing their performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a molecular recognition strategy for fabricating single-atom sites with regulable local coordination structures.
- To demonstrate the introduction of heteroatoms into single-atom sites using this strategy.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a guest-host molecular recognition approach where a heteroatom-containing ligand (guest) directs the coordination of a metal (host).
- Employing thiophene as a guest molecule to introduce sulfur atoms into the coordination sphere of iron single-atom sites.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated iron single-atom sites with precisely incorporated sulfur atoms in their local coordination structure.
- Achieved ultrahigh oxygen reduction electrocatalytic activity with a half-wave potential of 0.93 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode.
- Demonstrated the universality of the strategy for various single-atom sites.
Conclusions:
- The molecular recognition strategy offers a breakthrough in fabricating tailored single-atom sites.
- This approach provides new avenues for atomic-level structural regulation in materials science.
- The method enables the design of advanced catalysts with enhanced performance.
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