Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
10:57
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
19.2K
From high loading to high activity: unraveling the correlation in high-performance single-atom catalyst design
Degao Zhang1, Qian Lin1, Guangjun Nan2
1Institute for Science and Applications of Molecular Ferroelectrics, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, P. R. China. liyanxie@zjnu.edu.cn.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|February 27, 2026
Summary
High metal loading in single-atom catalysts (SACs) enhances oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Iron-based SACs on γ-graphyne (Fe-GY) show exceptional OER activity due to optimized intermediate binding from synergistic Fe-Fe interactions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are promising for electrocatalysis, including the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
- High surface free energy of isolated metal sites in SACs typically leads to low metal loading and limited active sites.
- Optimizing metal loading is crucial for enhancing SAC performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of varying metal loading on SACs for OER.
- To explore the OER performance of diverse transition metals on a γ-graphyne (GY) support.
- To understand the mechanism behind enhanced activity in high-loading SACs.
Main Methods:
- Construction of low- and high-loading SACs using Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, and Pt on a GY support.
- Electrocatalytic testing for OER performance.
- Computational analysis including bonding and anti-bonding stabilized energy difference (BASED), differential charge, and density of states (DOS).
Main Results:
- High metal loading reduced the OER overpotential for Fe- and Co-GY catalysts.
- Fe-GY exhibited exceptional OER activity with an overpotential of 0.39 V.
- BASED analysis revealed optimized binding of *OH and *O intermediates at high Fe loading due to synergistic Fe-Fe interactions.
Conclusions:
- High metal loading can significantly improve OER performance in SACs.
- Synergistic effects between adjacent metal atoms are key to optimizing catalytic activity.
- Findings provide insights for designing high-loading SACs for efficient electrocatalysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Heterogeneous Catalysis
9
Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
9
01:17Factors Affecting Activity Coefficient
1.7K
The extended Debye-Hückel equation indicates that the activity coefficient of an ion in an aqueous solution at 25°C depends on three partially interdependent properties: the ionic strength of the solution, the charge of the ion, and the ion size.
The activity coefficient value for an ion is close to one when the solution has almost zero ionic strength, i.e., when the solution shows close to ideal behavior. As the ionic strength of the solution increases from 0 to 0.1 mol/L, a...
The activity coefficient value for an ion is close to one when the solution has almost zero ionic strength, i.e., when the solution shows close to ideal behavior. As the ionic strength of the solution increases from 0 to 0.1 mol/L, a...
1.7K
02:50Catalysis
31.1K
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
31.1K
01:24Thermodynamics: Activity Coefficient
3.1K
Activity is the measure of the effective concentration of the species in solution. It can be expressed as the product of the molar concentration of the species and its activity coefficient. The activity coefficient is a dimensionless quantity and depends on the total ionic strength of the solution.
The activity coefficient is a measure of the deviation from ideal behavior. When the ionic strength of the solution is minimal, the activity coefficient of an ionic species is close to unity, making...
The activity coefficient is a measure of the deviation from ideal behavior. When the ionic strength of the solution is minimal, the activity coefficient of an ionic species is close to unity, making...
3.1K
01:07Catalytically Perfect Enzymes
5.2K
The theory of catalytically perfect enzymes was first proposed by W.J. Albery and J. R. Knowles in 1976. These enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions at high-speed. Their catalytic efficiency values range from 108-109 M-1s-1. These enzymes are also called 'diffusion-controlled' as the only rate-limiting step in the catalysis is that of the substrate diffusion into the active site. Examples include triose phosphate isomerase, fumarase, and superoxide dismutase.
Most enzymes...
Most enzymes...
5.2K
01:22Factors Influencing the Rate of Chemical Reactions
9.0K
A variety of factors influence the rate of chemical reactions. For a chemical reaction to happen, atoms must collide with enough energy to overcome the repulsion between their electrons. This energy is called activation energy. Factors influencing the rate of reaction either lower the activation energy or increase the likelihood of a successful collision.
Concentration and Pressure:
The more particles present within a given space, the more likely those particles are to bump into one another....
Concentration and Pressure:
The more particles present within a given space, the more likely those particles are to bump into one another....
9.0K