The synthesis of single-atom catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis

Tuning Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction Selectivity of Bi Single-Atom Electrocatalysts with Controlled Coordination Environments

Control over product selectivity of the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a crucial challenge for the sustainable production of carbon-based chemical feedstocks. In this regard, single-atom catalysts (SACs) are promising materials due to their tunable coordination environments, which could enable tailored catalytic activities and selectivities, as well as new insights into structure-activity relationships. However, direct evidence for selectivity control via systematic tuning of the SAC coordination environment is scarce. In this work, we have synthesized two differently coordinated Bi SACs anchored to the same host material (carbon black) and characterized their CO2RR activities and selectivities. We find that oxophilic, oxygen-coordinated Bi atoms produce HCOOH, while nitrogen-coordinated Bi atoms generate CO. Importantly, use of the same support material assured that alternation of the coordination environment is the dominant factor for controlling the CO2RR product selectivity. Overall, this work demonstrates the structure-activity relationship of Bi SACs, which can be utilized to establish control over CO2RR product distributions, and highlights the promise for engineering atomic coordination environments of SACs to tune reaction pathways.

Efficient liquid phase photothermal catalysis realized by Ag2O/Bi4O5I2via heat-localization in a microreactor

By constructing a Ag2O/Bi4O5I2 p-n heterojunction and applying a heat-localization microreactor, efficient photocatalysis enhanced by both photoinduced carrier separation and the photothermal effect was realized. This work focuses on the utilization of near-infrared light to broaden the absorption spectrum and accelerate the transportation of carriers. Through the production and localization of heat, it provides a novel thought for full-spectrum photocatalysis.

Elevating the Photocatalytic Performance of BiOCl by Promoting Light Utilization: From Co doping to the Microreactor

Owing to its unique layered structure, BiOCl demonstrates high photocatalytic activity. However, its wide bandgap hinders the absorption of visible light. Doping modification is an effective method to expand the light absorption edge of photocatalysts by creating a doping energy level within the bandgap. Herein, Co as a variable valence element was used to dope the BiOCl nanosheets through a simple hydrothermal approach. As a result, the absorption edge of Co-BiOCl extends to the visible light region, and the photocatalytic performance was enhanced by 3.02 times. To overcome the shortcoming of photons being consumed easily in the bulk reactor, a planar microreactor was introduced to reduce the attenuation of light and accelerate the mass transfer. By comparison to the bulk reactor, a maximum of 15.3-fold additional activity promotion emerged. This work combines doping modification and reactor improvement to realize highly efficient photocatalysis in practical application.

Infrared light induced sustainable enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency by thermoelectric effect

Hindering the recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs is of significance for enhancing photocatalytic performance. Applying a voltage to separate carriers offers an option to realize it. Thermoelectric materials own the ability to continuously sustain a voltage when a temperature difference exists between its two sides. However, maintaining the thermoelectric effect without wasting additional energy remains a challenge. Herein, a C3N4/Polyaniline/Poly(vinylidene fluoride) cilia array was fabricated to reach efficient photocatalysis through thermoelectric effect and photothermal effect. The cilia array structure offers more than 40% of light absorbance compared to the film. Hence, the infrared light in sunlight, which was usually omitted in photocatalysis, was transformed into heat. Through the unique design which draws upon the huge difference in thermal conductivity of air and water, a temperature gap was formed between the top and bottom sides of the cilia array by half-submerging it in water. Therefore, the photocatalytic efficiency was improved by 84.4%. This work achieves an energy-saving method to enhance photocatalytic performance by activating thermoelectric effect through infrared light, shedding light on the application of multi-modes enhanced photocatalysis.

Single-Atom Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

Single-atom catalysts hold the potential to significantly impact the chemical sector, pushing the boundaries of catalysis in new, uncharted directions. These materials, featuring isolated metal species ligated on solid supports, can exist in many coordination environments, all of which have shown important functions in specific transformations. Their emergence has also provided exciting opportunities for mimicking metalloenzymes and bridging the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. This Review outlines the impressive progress made in recent years regarding the use of single-atom catalysts in organic synthesis. We also illustrate potential knowledge gaps in the search for more sustainable, earth-abundant single-atom catalysts for synthetic applications.