Thermally stable single-atom platinum-on-ceria catalysts via atom trapping

TLDR

High temperatures destabilize single‑atom catalysts by mobilizing metal atoms and causing particle growth, which reduces surface area and activity. They exploited the mobility of metal atoms at high temperatures to synthesize single‑atom platinum catalysts. Platinum atoms transfer from alumina to ceria at 800 °C in air, yielding highly active catalysts with isolated metal cations. Jones et al.

Abstract

Hot single-atom catalysts For heterogeneous catalysts made from precious metal nanoparticles adsorbed on metal oxides, high temperatures are the enemy. The metal atoms become mobile and the small particles grow larger, causing a loss in surface area and hence in activity. Jones et al. turned this process to their advantage and used these mobile species to create single-atom platinum catalysts. The platinum on alumina supported transfers in air at 800°C to ceria supports to form highly active catalysts with isolated metal cations. Science , this issue p. 150