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Yan H, Zhao X, Guo N, Lyu Z, Du Y, Xi S, Guo R, Chen C, Chen Z, Liu W, Yao C, Li J, Pennycook SJ, Chen W, Su C, Zhang C, Lu J. Atomic engineering of high-density isolated Co atoms on graphene with proximal-atom controlled reaction selectivity. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3197. [PMID: 30139966 PMCID: PMC6107637 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05754-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Controllable synthesis of single atom catalysts (SACs) with high loading remains challenging due to the aggregation tendency of metal atoms as the surface coverage increases. Here we report the synthesis of graphene supported cobalt SACs (Co1/G) with a tuneable high loading by atomic layer deposition. Ozone treatment of the graphene support not only eliminates the undesirable ligands of the pre-deposited metal precursors, but also regenerates active sites for the precise tuning of the density of Co atoms. The Co1/G SACs also demonstrate exceptional activity and high selectivity for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes to produce azoxy aromatic compounds, attributable to the formation of a coordinatively unsaturated and positively charged catalytically active center (Co–O–C) arising from the proximal-atom induced partial depletion of the 3d Co orbitals. Our findings pave the way for the precise engineering of the metal loading in a variety of SACs for superior catalytic activities. Controllable synthesis of single atom catalysts with sufficiently high metal loading remains challenging due to the tendency of agglomeration. Here the authors synthesize a series of stable atomically dispersed cobalt atoms on graphene with high Co loadings via the regeneration of active sites by atomic layer deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yan
- SZU-NUS Collaborative Center and International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Xiaoxu Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Na Guo
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117542, Singapore
| | - Zhiyang Lyu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Yonghua Du
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Shibo Xi
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Zhongxin Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Chuanhao Yao
- SZU-NUS Collaborative Center and International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Jing Li
- SZU-NUS Collaborative Center and International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Stephen J Pennycook
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117542, Singapore.,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Chenliang Su
- SZU-NUS Collaborative Center and International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore. .,Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117542, Singapore. .,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
| | - Jiong Lu
- SZU-NUS Collaborative Center and International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China. .,Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore. .,Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
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