Directly transforming copper (I) oxide bulk into isolated single-atom copper sites catalyst through gas-transport approach

Zhengkun Yang, Bingxu Chen, Wenxing Chen, Yunteng Qu, Fangyao Zhou, Changming Zhao, Qian Xu, Qinghua Zhang, Xuezhi Duan () and Yuen Wu ()
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Zhengkun Yang: University of Science and Technology of China
Bingxu Chen: East China University of Science and Technology
Wenxing Chen: Beijing Institute of Technology
Yunteng Qu: University of Science and Technology of China
Fangyao Zhou: University of Science and Technology of China
Changming Zhao: University of Science and Technology of China
Qian Xu: National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (NSRL)
Qinghua Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xuezhi Duan: East China University of Science and Technology
Yuen Wu: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Single-atom metal catalysts have sparked tremendous attention, but direct transformation of cheap and easily obtainable bulk metal oxide into single atoms is still a great challenge. Here we report a facile and versatile gas-transport strategy to synthesize isolated single-atom copper sites (Cu ISAS/NC) catalyst at gram levels. Commercial copper (I) oxide powder is sublimated as mobile vapor at nearly melting temperature (1500 K) and subsequently can be trapped and reduced by the defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon (NC), forming the isolated copper sites catalyst. Strikingly, this thermally stable Cu ISAS/NC, which is obtained above 1270 K, delivers excellent oxygen reduction performance possessing a recorded half-wave potential of 0.92 V vs RHE among other Cu-based electrocatalysts. By varying metal oxide precursors, we demonstrate the universal synthesis of different metal single atoms anchored on NC materials (M ISAS/NC, where M refers to Mo and Sn). This strategy is readily scalable and the as-prepared sintering-resistant M ISAS/NC catalysts hold great potential in high-temperature applications.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11796-4

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