Coordination Tunes Selectivity: Two-Electron Oxygen Reduction on High-Loading Molybdenum Single-Atom Catalysts

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have great potential in electrocatalysis. Their performance can be rationally optimized by tailoring the metal atoms, adjacent coordinative dopants, and metal loading. However, doing so is still a great challenge because of the limited synthesis approach and insufficient understanding of the structure–property relationships. Herein, we report a new kind of Mo SAC with a unique O,S coordination and a high metal loading over 10 wt %. The isolation and local environment was identified by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure. The SACs catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via a 2 e⁻ pathway with a high H₂O₂ selectivity of over 95 % in 0.10 m KOH. The critical role of the Mo single atoms and the coordination structure was revealed by both electrochemical tests and theoretical calculations.     

Regulating the Coordination Environment of MOF‐Templated Single‐Atom Nickel Electrocatalysts for Boosting CO2 Reduction

The general synthesis and control of the coordination environment of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) remains a great challenge. Herein, a general host–guest cooperative protection strategy has been developed to construct SACs by introducing polypyrrole (PPy) into a bimetallic metal–organic framework. As an example, the introduction of Mg²⁺ in MgNi‐MOF‐74 extends the distance between adjacent Ni atoms; the PPy guests serve as N source to stabilize the isolated Ni atoms during pyrolysis. As a result, a series of single‐atom Ni catalysts (named Ni_SA‐N_x‐C) with different N coordination numbers have been fabricated by controlling the pyrolysis temperature. Significantly, the Ni_SA‐N₂‐C catalyst, with the lowest N coordination number, achieves high CO Faradaic efficiency (98 %) and turnover frequency (1622 h^?1), far superior to those of Ni_SA‐N₃‐C and Ni_SA‐N₄‐C, in electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Theoretical calculations reveal that the low N coordination number of single‐atom Ni sites in Ni_SA‐N₂‐C is favorable to the formation of COOH* intermediate and thus accounts for its superior activity.     

Ultrathin Metal–Organic Framework Nanosheets with Ultrahigh Loading of Single Pt Atoms for Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

A surfactant‐stabilized coordination strategy is used to make two‐dimensional (2D) single‐atom catalysts (SACs) with an ultrahigh Pt loading of 12.0 wt %, by assembly of pre‐formed single Pt atom coordinated porphyrin precursors into free‐standing metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets with an ultrathin thickness of 2.4±0.9 nm. This is the first example of 2D MOF‐based SACs. Remarkably, the 2D SACs exhibit a record‐high photocatalytic H₂ evolution rate of 11 320 μmol g^?1 h^?1 via water splitting under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm) compared with those of reported MOF‐based photocatalysts. Moreover, the MOF nanosheets can be readily drop‐casted onto solid substrates, forming thin films while still retaining their photocatalytic activity, which is highly desirable for practical solar H₂ production.     

μ‐Glycine‐O:O′‐di‐μ‐oxo‐bis[(gly­cinato‐N,O)­oxomolybdenum(V)]

In the title compound, [Mo₂O₄(C₂H₄NO₂)₂(C₂H₅NO₂)], two Mo atoms sit in the same distorted pentagonal bipyramid coordination environment. There are four ligand types: oxo‐O, μ₂‐O, μ₂‐glycine and chelate glycine. There is an Mo—Mo bond between the two Mo atoms [2.552 (1) Å]. All amino groups participate in hydrogen bonding with O atoms of other mol­ecules, thus connecting the mol­ecules into a three‐dimensional structure.     

Stabilizing a Platinum1 Single‐Atom Catalyst on Supported Phosphomolybdic Acid without Compromising Hydrogenation Activity

In coordination chemistry, catalytically active metal complexes in a zero‐ or low‐valent state often adopt four‐coordinate square‐planar or tetrahedral geometry. By applying this principle, we have developed a stable Pt₁ single‐atom catalyst with a high Pt loading (close to 1 wt %) on phosphomolybdic acid(PMA)‐modified active carbon. This was achieved by anchoring Pt on the four‐fold hollow sites on PMA. Each Pt atom is stabilized by four oxygen atoms in a distorted square‐planar geometry, with Pt slightly protruding from the oxygen planar surface. Pt is positively charged, absorbs hydrogen easily, and exhibits excellent performance in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene and cyclohexanone. It is likely that the system described here can be extended to a number of stable SACs with superior catalytic activities.     

Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in the organic–inorganic hybrid compound bis(4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium) tetrathiocyanatozinc(II)–4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–water (1/2/2)

Zinc thiocyanate complexes have been found to be biologically active compounds. Zinc is also an essential element for the normal function of most organisms and is the main constituent in a number of metalloenzyme proteins. Pyrimidine and aminopyrimidine derivatives are biologically very important as they are components of nucleic acids. Thiocyanate ions can bridge metal ions by employing both their N and S atoms for coordination. They can play an important role in assembling different coordination structures and yield an interesting variety of one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional polymeric metal–thiocyanate supramolecular frameworks. The structure of a new zinc thiocyanate–aminopyrimidine organic–inorganic compound, (C₆H₉ClN₃)₂[Zn(NCS)₄]·2C₆H₈ClN₃·2H₂O, is reported. The asymmetric unit consist of half a tetrathiocyanatozinc(II) dianion, an uncoordinated 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium cation, a 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine molecule and a water molecule. The Zn^II atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry and is coordinated by four N atoms from the thiocyanate anions. The Zn^II atom is located on a special position (twofold axis of symmetry). The pyrimidinium cation and the pyrimidine molecule are not coordinated to the Zn^II atom, but are hydrogen bonded to the uncoordinated water molecules and the metal‐coordinated thiocyanate ligands. The pyrimidine molecules and pyrimidinium cations also form base‐pair‐like structures with an R₂²(8) ring motif via N—H…N hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N—H…O, O—H…S, N—H…S and O—H…N hydrogen bonds, by intramolecular N—H…Cl and C—H…Cl hydrogen bonds, and also by π–π stacking interactions.     

A novel two‐dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer with 6‐mercaptonicotinic acid

The novel title Zn^II coordination polymer, poly[bis(μ‐6‐thioxo‐1,6‐dihydropyridine‐3‐carboxylato‐κ²S:O)zinc(II)], [Zn(C₆H₄NO₂S)₂]_n, consists of two crystallographically independent zinc centers and two 6‐mercaptonicotinate (Hmna⁻) ligands. Each Zn^II atom is four‐coordinated and lies at the center of a distorted tetrahedral ZnS₂O₂ coordination polyhedron, bridged by four Hmna⁻ ligands to form a two‐dimensional (4,4)‐network. Each Hmna⁻ ion acts as a bridging bidentate ligand, coordinating to two Zn^II atoms through the S atom and a carboxyl O atom. The metal centers reside on twofold rotation axes. The coordination mode of the S atoms and N—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the protonated N atoms and the uncoordinated carboxyl O atoms give the extended structure a wavelike form.     

Poly[[di­aqua­barium(II)]‐μ5‐m‐phenylenedioxydiacetato]: a three‐dimensional barium(II) coordination polymer

In the title coordination polymer, [Ba(1,3‐BDOA)(H₂O)₂]_n (where 1,3‐BDOA²⁻ is the m‐phenylenedioxydiacetate dianion, C₁₀H₈O₆), each Ba^II ion is ten‐coordinated by six carboxyl O atoms and two ether O atoms from different 1,3‐BDOA²⁻ ligands, as well as by two water mol­ecules, thus defining a dodeca­hedron. The Ba^II atoms are covalently linked by 1,3‐BDOA²⁻ ligands in different crystallographic directions, giving rise to a three‐dimensional open framework. The crystal structure is further stabilized by hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions. In previously studied polymers of this type, the 1,3‐BDOA²⁻ ligand showed multiple bridging modes with metal ions, including bi‐, tri‐, tetra‐ and hexa­dentate. The title Ba^II complex represents a novel three‐dimensional coordination polymer constructed by octa­dentate bridging 1,3‐BDOA²⁻ ligands.     

Regulating the Coordination Environment of MOF-Templated Single-Atom Nickel Electrocatalysts for Boosting CO2 Reduction

The general synthesis and control of the coordination environment of single-atom catalysts (SACs) remains a great challenge. Herein, a general host–guest cooperative protection strategy has been developed to construct SACs by introducing polypyrrole (PPy) into a bimetallic metal–organic framework. As an example, the introduction of Mg²⁺ in MgNi-MOF-74 extends the distance between adjacent Ni atoms; the PPy guests serve as N source to stabilize the isolated Ni atoms during pyrolysis. As a result, a series of single-atom Ni catalysts (named Ni_SA-N_x-C) with different N coordination numbers have been fabricated by controlling the pyrolysis temperature. Significantly, the Ni_SA-N₂-C catalyst, with the lowest N coordination number, achieves high CO Faradaic efficiency (98 %) and turnover frequency (1622 h⁻¹), far superior to those of Ni_SA-N₃-C and Ni_SA-N₄-C, in electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Theoretical calculations reveal that the low N coordination number of single-atom Ni sites in Ni_SA-N₂-C is favorable to the formation of COOH* intermediate and thus accounts for its superior activity.     

Poly[μ7‐sulfanediyldiacetato‐disilver(I)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Ag₂(C₄H₄O₄S)], each Ag^I cation is four‐coordinated by three of the four carboxylate O atoms and the S atom from symmetry‐related sulfanediyldiacetate ligands, thus defining a distorted tetrahedral geometry at the metal centre. The Ag^I cations are bridged by sulfanediyldiacetate groups, leading to a two‐dimensional layer structure. These layers are interconnected via Ag—S bonds to form a three‐dimensional coordination polymer network overall.     

Systematische Studie zu den Koordinationseigenschaften des Guanidin‐Liganden N1,N2‐Bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐yliden)‐ethan‐1,2‐diamin mit den Metallen Mn,Co, Ni,Ag und Cu

A Systematic Study on the Coordination Properties of the Guanidine Ligand N¹,N²‐Bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)‐ethane‐1,2‐diamine with the Metals Mn, Co, Ni, Ag and Cu The syntheses and characterization of the compounds [Mn(DMEG₂e)Cl₂] ( 1 ), [Co(DMEG₂e)Cl₂] ( 2 ), [Ni(DMEG₂e)₂]I₂ ( 3 ), [Cu(DMEG₂e)I] ( 4 ) and {[Ag(DMEG₂e)]BF₄}_n ( 5 ) with the bisguanidine ligand N¹,N²‐bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (DMEG₂e) are described. All complexes are synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding metal salt with the DMEG₂e ligand in MeCN or THF. The coordination of the metal atoms vary from a distorted tetrahedron in 1 and 2 , a distorted trigonal planar coordination in 4 to linear coordination in 5 . Contrasting to the compounds 1 , 2 , 4 and 5 which exhibit a 1:1 ratio of metal to ligand, two DMEG₂e ligands are bound to the Ni atom in the case of 3 resulting in a coordination polyhedron which represents the stage exactly in the middle between the square‐planar and the tetrahedral geometry. Whereas crystals of 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 contain discrete molecules, in 5 the Ag atoms are alternately linked by two different DMEG₂e ligands to form a chain structure. The comparative discussion of several DMEG₂e containing complexes with the compounds reported herein supplements this systematic study.     

Poly[(μ4‐2,5‐dimethoxybenzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)manganese(II)] and its zinc(II) analogue: three‐dimensional coordination polymers containing unusually coordinated metal centres

The title compounds, [Mn(C₁₀H₈O₆)]_n and [Zn(C₁₀H₈O₆)]_n, are isomorphous coordination polymers prepared from 2,5‐dimethoxyterephthalic acid (H₂dmt) and the respective metal(II) salts. Both complexes form three‐dimensional metal–organic frameworks with each M^II centre bridged by four 2,5‐dimethoxyterephthalate (dmt²⁻) anions, resulting in the same type of network topology. The asymmetric unit consists of one M^II cation on a twofold axis and one half of a dmt²⁻ anion (located on a centre of inversion). In the crystal structure, the M^II centres are coordinated in a rather unusual way, as there is a distorted tetrahedral inner coordination sphere formed by four carboxylate O atoms of four different dmt²⁻ anions, and an additional outer coordination sphere formed by two methoxy and two carboxylate O atoms, with each of the O atoms belonging to one of the four different dmt²⁻ anions forming the inner coordination sphere. Consideration of both coordination spheres results in a super‐dodecahedral coordination geometry for the M^II centres. Besides the numerous M^II...O interactions, both structures are further stabilized by weak C—H...O contacts.     

Non‐metal Single‐Iodine‐Atom Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Common‐metal‐based single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are quite difficult to design due to the complex synthesis processes required. Herein, we report a single‐atom nickel iodide (SANi‐I) electrocatalyst with atomically dispersed non‐metal iodine atoms. The SANi‐I is prepared via a simple calcination step in a vacuum‐sealed ampoule and subsequent cyclic voltammetry activation. Aberration‐corrected high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron‐based X‐ray absorption spectroscopy are applied to confirm the atomic‐level dispersion of iodine atoms and detailed structure of SANi‐I. Single iodine atoms are found to be isolated by oxygen atoms. The SANi‐I is structural stable and shows exceptional electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that the hydrogen adatom (H_ads) is adsorbed by a single iodine atom, forming the I‐H_ads intermediate, which promotes the HER process.     

Maximizing the Number of Interfacial Sites in Single‐Atom Catalysts for the Highly Selective,Solvent‐Free Oxidation of Primary Alcohols

The solvent‐free selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes with molecular oxygen is highly attractive yet challenging. Interfacial sites between a metal and an oxide support are crucial in determining the activity and selectivity of such heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that the use of supported single‐atom catalysts (SACs) leads to high activity and selectivity in this reaction. The significantly increased number of interfacial sites, resulting from the presence of individually dispersed metal atoms on the support, renders SACs one or two orders of magnitude more active than the corresponding nanoparticle (NP) catalysts. Lattice oxygen atoms activated at interfacial sites were found to be more selective than O₂ activated on metal NPs in oxidizing the alcohol substrate. This work demonstrates for the first time that the number of interfacial sites is maximized in SACs, providing a new avenue for improving catalytic performance by developing appropriate SACs for alcohol oxidation and other reactions occurring at metal–support interfacial sites.     

Maximizing the Number of Interfacial Sites in Single‐Atom Catalysts for the Highly Selective,Solvent‐Free Oxidation of Primary Alcohols

The solvent‐free selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes with molecular oxygen is highly attractive yet challenging. Interfacial sites between a metal and an oxide support are crucial in determining the activity and selectivity of such heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that the use of supported single‐atom catalysts (SACs) leads to high activity and selectivity in this reaction. The significantly increased number of interfacial sites, resulting from the presence of individually dispersed metal atoms on the support, renders SACs one or two orders of magnitude more active than the corresponding nanoparticle (NP) catalysts. Lattice oxygen atoms activated at interfacial sites were found to be more selective than O₂ activated on metal NPs in oxidizing the alcohol substrate. This work demonstrates for the first time that the number of interfacial sites is maximized in SACs, providing a new avenue for improving catalytic performance by developing appropriate SACs for alcohol oxidation and other reactions occurring at metal–support interfacial sites.     

Bis(μ‐benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylato)bis{aqua[2‐(2‐chloro‐6‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline]cadmium(II)} and its zinc(II) analogue

In the isomorphous title compounds, [Cd₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₁₉H₁₀ClFN₄)₂(H₂O)₂] and [Zn₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₁₉H₁₀ClFN₄)₂(H₂O)₂], the Cd^II centre is seven‐coordinated by two N atoms from one [2‐(2‐chloro‐6‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (L) ligand, one water O atom and four carboxylate O atoms from two different benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (1,2‐bdc) ligands in a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal coordination, while the Zn^II centre is six‐coordinated by two N atoms from one L ligand, one water O atom and three carboxylate O atoms from two different 1,2‐bdc ligands in a distorted octahedral coordination. Each pair of adjacent metal centres is bridged by two 1,2‐bdc ligands to form a dimeric structure. In the dimer, each L ligand coordinates one metal centre. The dimer is centrosymmetric, with a crystallographic inversion centre midway between the two metal centres. The aromatic interactions lead the dimers to form a two‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. Finally, O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds reinforce the two‐dimensional structures of the two compounds.     

catena‐Poly[[[(di‐2‐pyridylamine‐κ2N2,N2′)copper(II)]‐μ‐benzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ3O1,O1′:O3] monohydrate], a zigzag coordination polymer with strong π–π interactions

The novel title coordination polymer, {[Cu(C₈H₄O₄)(C₁₀H₉N₃)]·H₂O}_n, synthesized by the slow‐diffusion method, takes the form of one‐dimensional zigzag chains built up of Cu^II cations linked by benzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate (ipht) anions. An exceptional characteristic of this structure is that it belongs to a small group of metal–organic polymers where ipht is coordinated as a bridging tridentate ligand with monodentate and chelate coordination of individual carboxylate groups. The Cu^II cation has a highly distorted square‐pyramidal geometry formed by three O atoms from two ipht anions and two N atoms from a di‐2‐pyridylamine (dipya) ligand. The zigzag chains, which run along the b axis, further construct a three‐dimensional metal–organic framework via strong face‐to‐face π–π interactions and hydrogen bonds. A solvent water molecule is linked to the different carboxylate groups via hydrogen bonds. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analyses confirm the strong hydrogen bonding.     

Nonperipherally Octa(butyloxy)‐Substituted Phthalocyanine Derivatives with Good Crystallinity: Effects of Metal–Ligand Coordination on the Molecular Structure,Internal Structure,and Dimensions of Self‐Assembled Nanostructures

To investigate the effects of metal–ligand coordination on the molecular structure, internal structure, dimensions, and morphology of self‐assembled nanostructures, two nonperipherally octa(alkoxyl)‐substituted phthalocyanine compounds with good crystallinity, namely, metal‐free 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25‐octa(butyloxy)phthalocyanine H₂Pc(α‐OC₄H₉)₈ ( 1 ) and its lead complex Pb[Pc(α‐OC₄H₉)₈] ( 2 ), were synthesized. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed the distorted molecular structure of metal‐free phthalocyanine with a saddle conformation. In the crystal of 2 , two monomeric molecules are linked by coordination of the Pb atom of one molecule with an aza‐nitrogen atom and its two neighboring oxygen atoms from the butyloxy substituents of another molecule, thereby forming a Pb‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker supramolecular structure with a domed conformation for the phthalocyanine ligand. The self‐assembling properties of 1 and 2 in the absence and presence of sodium ions were comparatively investigated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction techniques. Intermolecular π–π interactions between metal‐free phthalocyanine molecules led to the formation of nanoribbons several micrometers in length and with an average width of approximately 100 nm, whereas the phthalocyaninato lead complex self‐assembles into nanostructures also with the ribbon morphology and micrometer length but with a different average width of approximately 150 nm depending on the π–π interactions between neighboring Pb‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker building blocks. This revealed the effect of the molecular structure (conformation) associated with metal–ligand (Pb? N_isoindole, Pb? N_aza, and Pb? O_butyloxy) coordination on the dimensions of the nanostructures. In the presence of Na⁺, additional metal–ligand (Na? N_aza and Na? O_butyloxy) coordination bonds formed between sodium atoms and aza‐nitrogen atoms and the neighboring butyloxy oxygen atoms of two metal‐free phthalocyanine molecules cooperate with the intrinsic intermolecular π–π interactions, thereby resulting in an Na‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker building block with a twisted structure for the phthalocyanine ligand, which self‐assembles into twisted nanoribbons with an average width of approximately 50 nm depending on the intertetrapyrrole π–π interaction. This is evidenced by the X‐ray diffraction analysis results for the resulting aggregates. Twisted nanoribbons with an average width of approximately 100 nm were also formed from the lead coordination compound 2 in the presence of Na⁺ with a Pb‐connected pseudo‐double‐decker as the building block due to the formation of metal–ligand (Na? N_aza and Na? O_butyloxy) coordination bonds between additionally introduced sodium ions and two phthalocyanine ligands of neighboring pseudo‐double‐decker building blocks.     

A three‐dimensional pyrazine‐2,5‐dicarboxylate CdII coordination framework with new (4,4,4)‐connected three‐nodal topology

Poly[(μ₄‐pyrazine‐2,5‐dicarboxylato)cadmium(II)], [Cd(C₆H₂N₂O₄)]_n or [Cd(pzdc)]_n (pzdc is the pyrazine‐2,5‐dicarboxylate dianion), has been synthesized hydrothermally. The asymmetric unit consists of a Cd^II atom and two independent halves of pzdc ligands that can be expanded via inversion through the centres of the ligands so that each ligand binds to four Cd^II atoms with the same binding mode using six donor atoms. The Cd^II centre is in a distorted octahedral coordination geometry with four O‐ and two N‐atom donors from four pzdc ligands. The infinite linkage of the metal atoms and ligands forms a three‐dimensional framework with a rectangular channel which is so narrow that there is no measurable void space in the overall structure. This coordination polymer represents the first example of (4,4,4)‐connected three‐nodal framework.     

In Situ Dispersion of Palladium on TiO2 During Reverse Water–Gas Shift Reaction: Formation of Atomically Dispersed Palladium

The application of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) to high‐temperature hydrogenation requires materials that thermodynamically favor metal atom isolation over cluster formation. We demonstrate that Pd can be predominantly dispersed as isolated atoms onto TiO₂ during the reverse water–gas shift (rWGS) reaction at 400 °C. Achieving atomic dispersion requires an artificial increase of the absolute TiO₂ surface area by an order of magnitude and can be accomplished by physically mixing a precatalyst (Pd/TiO₂) with neat TiO₂ prior to the rWGS reaction. The in situ dispersion of Pd was reflected through a continuous increase of rWGS activity over 92 h and supported by kinetic analysis, infrared and X‐ray absorption spectroscopies and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The thermodynamic stability of Pd under high‐temperature rWGS conditions is associated with Pd‐Ti coordination, which manifests upon O‐vacancy formation, and the artificial increase in TiO₂ surface area.