A new trick for an old support: Stabilizing gold single atoms on LaFeO3 perovskite

Single-atom catalysts (SACS) have shown great potential for achieving superior catalytic activity due to maximizing metal efficiency. The key obstacle in developing SACS lies in the availability of supports that can stabilize SACS. Here we report the first successful development of single gold (Au) atom catalysts supported on high-surface-area hierarchical perovskite oxides. The resulting Au single-atoms are extremely stable at calcination temperatures up to 700 degrees C in air and under reaction conditions. A high catalytic activity for CO oxidation and distinct self-activating property were also achieved. Furthermore, evidenced by theoretical calculations and experimental studies including X-ray absorption fine structures and in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectra, the surface Au active sites are confirmed to be predominately positively charged. This work provides a generalizable approach to fabricating highly stable Au single-atom catalysts with tunable catalytic performance, and we anticipate that this discovery will facilitate new possibilities for the development of single atom catalysts.