Single-Atom Catalysts on CN: Minimizing Single Atom Pt Loading for Maximized Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Efficiency.

The use of metal single atoms (SAs) as co-catalysts on semiconductors has emerged as a promising technology to enhance their photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. In this study, we describe the deposition of very low amounts of Pt SAs (<0.1 at %) on exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (CN) by a direct Pt-deposition approach from highly dilute chloroplatinic acid precursors.

Pt Single Atoms Loaded on Thin-Layer TiO Electrodes: Electrochemical and Photocatalytic Features.

Recently, the use of Pt in the form of single atoms (SA) has attracted considerable attention to promote the cathodic hydrogen production reaction from water in electrochemical or photocatalytic settings. First, produce suitable electrodes by Pt SA deposition on Direct current (DC)-sputter deposited titania (TiO) layers on graphene-these electrodes allow to characterization of the electrochemical properties of Pt single atoms and their investigation in high-resolution HAADF-STEM. For Pt SAs loaded on TiO, electrochemical H evolution shows only a very small overpotential.

Lifshitz Transition in a Single-Atom-Thick GdYbPb Kagome Compound on Si(111).

Lanthanide (Ln) elements Gd and Yb alloyed with a Pb monolayer on the Si(111) substrate form LnPb compounds having the same crystal structure. They comprise a single-atom-thick Pb layer arranged in a slightly distorted kagome lattice with Ln atoms filling the hexagonal voids. They have similar electronic band structures except for the Fermi level position, which varies between the divalent Yb- and trivalent Gd-containing compounds by ∼0.

Pt Single Atoms on TiO Can Catalyze Water Oxidation in Photoelectrochemical Experiments.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting on n-type semiconductors is highly dependent on catalysis of the rate-determining reaction of O evolution. Conventionally, in electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry O evolution is catalyzed by metal oxide catalysts like IrO and RuO, whereas noble metals such as Pt are considered unsuitable for this purpose. However, our study finds that Pt, in its single-atom form, exhibits exceptional cocatalytic properties for photoelectrochemical water oxidation on a TiO photoanode, in contrast to Pt in a nanoparticle form.

Stable and Highly Active Single Atom Configurations for Photocatalytic H Generation.

The employment of single atoms (SAs), especially Pt SAs, as co-catalysts in photocatalytic H generation has gained significant attention due to their exceptional efficiency. However, a major challenge in their application is the light-induced agglomeration of these SAs into less active nanosized particles under photocatalytic conditions. This study addresses the stability and reactivity of Pt SAs on TiO surfaces by investigating various post-deposition annealing treatments in air, Ar, and Ar-H environments at different temperatures.