Site-specific electrodeposition enables self-terminating growth of atomically dispersed metal catalysts

Yi Shi, Wen-Mao Huang, Jian Li, Yue Zhou, Zhong-Qiu Li, Yun-Chao Yin and Xing-Hua Xia ()
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Yi Shi: Nanjing University
Wen-Mao Huang: Nanjing University
Jian Li: Nanjing University
Yue Zhou: Nanjing University
Zhong-Qiu Li: Nanjing University
Yun-Chao Yin: Nanjing University
Xing-Hua Xia: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The growth of atomically dispersed metal catalysts (ADMCs) remains a great challenge owing to the thermodynamically driven atom aggregation. Here we report a surface-limited electrodeposition technique that uses site-specific substrates for the rapid and room-temperature synthesis of ADMCs. We obtained ADMCs by the underpotential deposition of a non-noble single-atom metal onto the chalcogen atoms of transition metal dichalcogenides and subsequent galvanic displacement with a more-noble single-atom metal. The site-specific electrodeposition enables the formation of energetically favorable metal–support bonds, and then automatically terminates the sequential formation of metallic bonding. The self-terminating effect restricts the metal deposition to the atomic scale. The modulated ADMCs exhibit remarkable activity and stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction compared to state-of-the-art single-atom electrocatalysts. We demonstrate that this methodology could be extended to the synthesis of a variety of ADMCs (Pt, Pd, Rh, Cu, Pb, Bi, and Sn), showing its general scope for functional ADMCs manufacturing in heterogeneous catalysis.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18430-8

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