Room-Temperature Transformation of Bulk Materials into Single Atoms for Advancing CO₂ Electroreduction Efficiency

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Single-atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit high atomic efficiency for energy and environmental applications.
• Current SAC synthesis methods often require high temperatures and have limited metal loading.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a room-temperature synthesis strategy for stable SACs with high metal loadings.
• To elucidate the mechanism of SAC formation via electrochemical redox reactions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electrochemical redox reactions within lithium-ion batteries at room temperature.
• Investigated the disintegration of bulk metallic compounds (M_aX_b) into single atoms.
• Employed lithiation-delithiation cycles for grain refinement and metal dissolution.
• Captured dissolved metals onto a substrate to form SACs.

Main Results:

• Achieved stable SACs with high metal loadings (>10 wt %) at room temperature.
• Demonstrated the mechanism involves M_aX_b disintegration driven by electrochemical cycling.
• Synthesized a copper single-atom catalyst (Cu SAC) with excellent performance for CO2 reduction.
• Showcased the catalyst's outstanding reactivity and electrochemical stability.

Conclusions:

• The room-temperature redox method provides a versatile and efficient route for SAC synthesis.
• This approach is compatible with various metals and substrates, enabling broad applications.
• The developed SACs show significant potential for sustainable catalytic technologies, particularly electrocatalytic CO2 reduction.