Single atom (SA), noble metal catalysts are of interest due to high projected catalytic activity while minimizing cost. Common issues facing many synthesis methodologies include complicated processes, low yields of SA product, and production of mixtures of SA and metal nanoparticles (NPs). This contribution reports a simple, room-temperature synthesis of single Pt-atom decorated, anatase Fe-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> particles. Synthesis begins with generation of ultranano (~1 nm) titania (TiUNP) that is based on thermodynamic principles (Gibbs−Wulff construction) controlling assembly and disassembly. TiUNP is doped with a single Fe atom that creates an engineered defect site; the defect captures and stabilizes atomically dispersed Pt. Characterization of the Pt decorant uses CO−DRIFTS (diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy) and by XAS (X-ray absorption spectroscopy); XAS also reveals the location of the Fe. Pt loading on single particles is a whopping 2.5 wt % Pt; the single Pt-atom decorated nanoparticle yield is 17%. Pt-containing particles show more than an order-of-magnitude increased photo-oxidation efficiency relative to particles containing Fe alone.<br/><br/>Pt is a rare and thus expensive element. More recent work shows that Ni is also captured as a single atom with a photo efficiency just slightly less than the Pt decorated particles; furthermore SA-Ni yield is 100%.

Photosynthesis of a photocatalyst: One metal atom at a time

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.