Creating single-atom Pt-ceria catalysts by surface step decoration

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10801
• Publication Date: 2016-02-24T10:59:10Z
• Authors: Filip Dvořák; Matteo Farnesi Ca...; Andrii Tovt; Nguyen-Dung Tran; Fabio R. Negreiros; Mykhailo Vorokhta; Tomáš Skála; Iva Matolínová; Josef Mysliveček; Vladimír Matolín; Stefano Fabris
• Keywords: Monatomic gas

Abstract Single-atom catalysts maximize the utilization of supported precious metals by exposing every single metal atom to reactants. To avoid sintering and deactivation at realistic reaction conditions, atoms are stabilized specific adsorption sites on catalyst substrates. Here we show combining photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy density functional theory calculations that Pt ceria most ubiquitous defects solid surfaces—monoatomic step edges. segregation steps leads stable dispersions 2+ ions in planar PtO 4 moieties incorporating excess O contributing oxygen storage capacity ceria. We experimentally control our samples, coverage monodispersed demonstrate engineering decoration represent effective strategies for understanding design new single-atom catalysts.