单原子催化剂的制备、表征及催化性能

单原子催化剂(SACs)是指金属以单原子形式均匀分散在载体上形成的具有优异催化性能的催化剂.与传统载体型催化剂相比,SACs具有活性高、选择性好及贵金属利用率高等优点,在氧化反应、加氢反应、水煤气变换、光催化制氢以及电化学催化等领域都具有广泛应用,是目前催化领域的研究热点之一.常见的SACs制备方法有共沉淀法、浸渍法、置换反应法、原子层沉积法以及反奥斯瓦尔德熟化法等.实验及理论研究表明,单原子催化剂高的活性和选择性可归因于活性金属原子和载体之间的相互作用及由此引起的电子结构改变.载体是影响单原子催化剂性能的重要因素之一.目前常用的SACs载体有金属氧化物、二维材料和金属纳米团簇等,本文着重综述了这三种负载型SACs的制备、表征、催化性能及催化机理,并概述了SACs未来可能的发展方向和应用.研究表明,共沉淀法、湿浸渍法和反奥斯瓦尔德熟化法等方法可用来制备氧化物负载的SACs.高角环形暗场像-扫描透射电子显微镜(HAADF-STEM)表明金属是以单原子形式均匀分散在载体上,近边X射线吸收精细结构(XANES)结果表明金属原子与载体之间存在着强相互作用.实验和理论研究均表明该类催化剂在CO氧化反应、水煤气转化及乙炔加氢生成乙烯等反应中具有高的催化活性和稳定性.采用化学气相沉积法和原子层沉积法等方法可以将金属原子稳定地负载在具有缺陷活性位点的石墨烯、MXene及六方氮化硼等二维材料上并相应制备出SACs.X射线吸收精细结构谱(EXAFS)和XANES分析表明样品中金属以单原子形式存在,而且金属原子与载体之间也存在着强相互作用,理论计算表明金属原子与二维载体之间的电荷转移是SACs活性高的主要原因.置换反应法和连续还原法是制备溶胶型SACs的有效方法,其中置换反应法可将活性金属原子原位组装在金属模板团簇的顶点位置,连续还原法可将活性原子负载于金属模板团簇的表面.DFT计算表明活性原子和金属模板团簇之间存在电荷转移效应,这是溶胶型SACs具有非常高的催化活性的主要原因.SACs下一步的研究方向可能是:(1)研究开发新型SACs,尽可能提高催化剂中活性金属原子的含量;(2)深入研究SACs的结构、活性以及催化机理之间的关系;(3)尝试将SACs大规模应用于工业催化.

Preparation,characterization and catalytic performance of single-atom catalysts

Supported and colloidal single-atom catalysts (SACs), which possess excellent catalytic properties, are particularly important in both fundamental studies and practical applications. The progress made in the preparation methods, characterization, catalytic performances and mechanisms of SACs anchored to metal oxides, two-dimensional materials and the surface of metal nanoclusters (NCs) are reviewed. The different techniques for SAC fabrication, including conventional solution methods based on co-precipitation, incipient wetness co-impregnation, and the chemical vapor deposition method, as well as the newer atom layer deposition (ALD) and galvanic replacement methods, are summarized. The main results from experimental and theoretical studies of various catalytic reac-tions over SACs, including oxidation reactions, hydrogenation, water gas shift, photocatalytic H2 evolution and electrochemical reactions, are also discussed. Moreover, the electronic properties of the single atoms and their interactions with the supports are described to assist in understanding the origin of the high catalytic activity and selectivity of SACs. Finally, possible future research di-rections of SACs and their applications are proposed.