Affiliation:
1. School of Science and Engineering The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Guangdong 518172 China
Abstract
AbstractThe dynamic response of single‐atom catalysts to a reactive environment is an increasingly significant topic for understanding the reaction mechanism at the molecular level. In particular, single atoms may experience dynamic aggregation into clusters or nanoparticles driven by thermodynamic or kinetic factors. Herein, the inherent mechanistic nuances that determine the dynamic profile during the reaction will be uncovered, including the intrinsic stability and site‐migration barrier of single atoms, external stimuli (temperature, voltage, and adsorbates), and the influence of catalyst support. Such dynamic aggregation can be beneficial or deleterious on the catalytic performance depending on the optimal initial state. Those examples will be highlighted where in situ formed clusters, rather than single atoms, serve as catalytically active sites for improved catalytic performance. This is followed by the introduction of operando techniques to understand the structural evolution. Finally, the emerging strategies via confinement and defect‐engineering to regulate dynamic aggregation will be briefly discussed.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Engineering,Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous),General Materials Science,General Chemical Engineering,Medicine (miscellaneous)