Gram-to-Ton Synthesis of Single-Atom Materials via Low-Hydroxyl-Coverage Surface Collision.

Abstract

Single-atom materials (SAMs) possess promising properties for chemical engineering, energy, environmental protection, and ecological remediation applications, yet their practical application remains constrained by the scarcity of scalable and sustainable synthesis methods. Here, we report a low-hydroxyl-coverage surface collision (LSC) strategy to prepare universal single-atom materials (Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Mg, Al) on (hydr)oxide supports from gram to ton scales. Amino acids are utilized to precisely control surface hydroxyl coverage, resulting in activating metal sites for cation exchange while preventing metal aggregation. The self-designed production facility achieves a daily capacity of 1 ton (annual capacity > 300 tons) and reduces carbon emissions by 67.8-72.0% compared to conventional synthesis methods, which breaks the traditional limitations of mass/heat transfer and solvent use. The representative single-atom material with asymmetric Fe₁-O-La sites facilitates ligand exchange between hydroxyl and phosphorus by tailoring the coordination structure of hydroxyl. Impressively, the composite of Fe₁-OLa with bentonite achieves the phosphorus removal efficiencies of 98.7% in the eutrophic lake water (Xingyun Lake, China), controlling the concentration below the eutrophication threshold (0.02 mg L^- ¹). Our work establishes a general and industrial platform for manufacturing high-performance single-atom materials, bridging a critical gap between laboratory innovation and large-scale engineering applications.