Selective dissolution to synthesize densely populated Pt single atom catalyst

Single atom catalysts (SACs) have become one of research focuses in heterogeneous catalysis for their effective utilization of active metal atoms and unique properties in various catalytic reactions. However, due to their high surface energy, noble metal single atoms like Pt tend to migrate and agglomerate to form larger clusters or nanoparticles, which makes it a challenge to fabricate noble metal SACs with high loading (> 5 wt.%). Furthermore, the decisive factors of loading maximum are still not clear. Here, we reported a manganese oxide supported Pt SAC with a high loading of 5.6 wt.% synthesized by selective dissolution strategy. The pre-stabilization of Pt by coordinated oxygen and the abundant surface defects of support are the determinants of high loading. The Pt SAC exhibited much better H-2 spill-over and hydrocarbon oxidation abilities with lower adsorption and dissociation energies than the manganese oxide support because of its local electronic structure with less repulsion.

Automated summary

Single atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted much attention in heterogeneous catalysis for their high loading and unique catalytic properties. However, the migration and agglomeration of noble metal single atoms pose a challenge for achieving high loading. In this study, we synthesized a manganese oxide supported Pt SAC with a high loading using a selective dissolution strategy. The pre-stabilization of Pt by coordinated oxygen and the abundant surface defects of the support contribute to the high loading.