Tuning binding strength between single metal atoms and supports enhances electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> methanation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41027973.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-63781-9 and PMC identifier 12485014.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with tunable site density and activity are promising for catalytic processes. However, the relationship between interacting sites and the catalytic mechanism, as well as the effect of the support on this relationship, remains incompletely understood. Here we report a support geometry engineering strategy to control the inter-site distance (d<sub>site</sub>) of Cu-N-C (CuNC) SACs via strong interactions between CuNC and a secondary support (ss). This process allows tuning of the binding strength (that is Cu-N bond length) between individual Cu atoms and the N-doped primary supports, concomitantly suppressing defect formation and Cu atom detachment in the CuNC framework. The continuous optimization of the electronic and coordination structure of individual active Cu sites, achieved by reducing the d<sub>site</sub> to approximately 0.7 nm, enhances their inherent CO<sub>2</sub>-to-methane selectivity and activity. As a result, the ss-engineered CuNC with a moderate d<sub>site</sub> of 0.68 nm exhibits enhanced methane selectivity of 70% and a partial current density of 303.9 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>, over 1.5 times higher than that of unmodified CuNC.