The efficient interconversion of electrical and chemical energy requires catalysts capable of accelerating complex multi-electron reactions at electrified interfaces. Recent research has revealed that atomically dispersed metal atoms embedded within graphitic carbons are potent catalysts for a wide array of energy conversion reaction ranging from oxygen reduction to carbon dioxide reduction. However, these single atom catalysts are typically prepared by high-temperature synthetic methods that invariably lead to a distribution of local coordination environments around the metal active sites that are recalcitrant to molecular-level synthetic modification. We have developed a simple, low-temperature, bottom-up synthetic strategy for conjugating well-defined molecular catalyst active sites with the extended states of graphitic solids. Using this approach, we have prepared a wide array of molecularly precise and tunable single atom catalysts. Our latest result in this area will be discussed.

Molecularly precise single atom catalysts for energy conversion

2019 Fall National Meeting

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