Well-defined diatomic catalysis for photosynthesis of C₂H₄ from CO₂

Owing to the specific electronic-redistribution and spatial proximity, diatomic catalysts (DACs) have been identified as principal interest for efficient photoconversion of CO₂ into C₂H₄. However, the predominant bottom-up strategy for DACs synthesis has critically constrained the development of highly ordered DACs due to the random distribution of heteronuclear atoms, which hinders the optimization of catalytic performance and the exploration of actual reaction mechanism. Here, an up-bottom ion-cutting architecture is proposed to fabricate the well-defined DACs, and the superior spatial proximity of CuAu diatomics (DAs) decorated TiO₂ (CuAu-DAs-TiO₂) is successfully constructed due to the compact heteroatomic spacing (2-3 Å). Owing to the profoundly low C-C coupling energy barrier of CuAu-DAs-TiO₂, a considerable C₂H₄ production with superior sustainability is achieved. Our discovery inspires a novel up-bottom strategy for the fabrication of well-defined DACs to motivate optimization of catalytic performance and distinct deduction of heteroatom synergistically catalytic mechanism.