Premium
A Universal Graphene Quantum Dot Tethering Design Strategy to Synthesize Single‐Atom Catalysts
Author(s) -
Jin Song,
Ni Youxuan,
Hao Zhimeng,
Zhang Kai,
Lu Yong,
Yan Zhenhua,
Wei Yajuan,
Lu YingRui,
Chan TingShan,
Chen Jun
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202008422
Subject(s) - graphene , carbon nanotube , nanosheet , catalysis , graphite , nanotechnology , quantum dot , carbon fibers , materials science , absorption spectroscopy , metal , selectivity , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , composite number , metallurgy , composite material
Abstract A general graphene quantum dot‐tethering design strategy to synthesize single‐atom catalysts (SACs) is presented. The strategy is applicable to different metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and supports (0D carbon nanosphere, 1D carbon nanotube, 2D graphene nanosheet, and 3D graphite foam) with the metal loading of 3.0–4.5 wt %. The direct transmission electron microscopy imaging and X‐ray absorption spectra analyses confirm the atomic dispersed metal in carbon supports. Our study reveals that the abundant oxygenated groups for complexing metal ions and the rich defective sites for incorporating nitrogen are essential to realize the synthesis of SACs. Furthermore, the carbon nanotube supported Ni SACs exhibits high electrocatalytic activity for CO 2 reduction with nearly 100 % CO selectivity. This universal strategy is expected to open up new research avenues to produce SACs for diverse electrocatalytic applications.