The assembling principle and strategies of high-density atomically dispersed catalysts

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2021-08, Vol.417, p.127917, Article 127917
• Main Authors: Zhao, Shuyan, Yin, Hengbo, Xia, Huicong, Qu, Gan, Yi, Shasha, Pang, Huan, Yan, Wenfu, Zhang, Jianan, Mu, Shichun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assembling principle; Atomically dispersed catalysts; Electrocatalysis; Energy storage; High-density active sites; Synthesis strategy
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.127917

Atomically dispersed catalysts have the ultra-high atom utilization, extremely high catalytic capacity, excellent selectivity. Studying the general preparation technology of high-loading atomically dispersed catalysts will help to further promote its industrial application. It is of great significance to explore simple and general synthesis strategies to obtain atomically dispersed catalysts with high metal loadings. [Display omitted] •Synthetic strategies of high-density atomically dispersed catalysts are summarized.•The mechanisms of high-density atomically dispersed catalysts are discussed.•Key challenges and opportunities for atomically dispersed catalysts are proposed. For a variety of electrocatalytic reactions, such as CO2 reduction, O2 reduction/precipitation, N2 reduction, etc., the activity, selectivity and stability of electrocatalysts play a vital role in energy efficiency and system performance. Atomically dispersed catalysts (ADCs) have attracted much attention due to their high catalytic activity and selectivity. However, the ultra-high surface free energy of single atoms makes the easily formation of clusters or/and nanoparticles. Therefore, it is still a huge challenge to develop universal methods to stabilize the high-density atomically dispersed catalysts (HADCs). This review highlights and summarizes the assembling principle and universal strategies for the preparation of HADCs, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) deriving, template-assisting, defects-trapping, wet-chemistry and heteroatom anchoring routes. Meanwhile, the applications of HADCs in energy conversion are systematically summarized. Significantly, the key to achieving mass production of HADCs through economical and efficient synthesis are discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of HADCs for preparation strategy are discussed. We sincerely believe that this review will provide an ideal guide and inspiration to theoretical and experimental design and prepare the HADCs.