Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (10): 2453-2483.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(22)64104-4

• Reviews •     Next Articles

Heterogeneous N-coordinated single-atom photocatalysts and electrocatalysts

Rongchen Shena, Lei Haoa, Yun Hau Ngb,c,#(), Peng Zhangd, Arramel Arramele,f, Youji Lig, Xin Lia,*()   

  1. aInstitute of Biomass Engineering, Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
    bSchool of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    cShenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Shenzhen 518057, Guangdong, China
    dState Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-Carbon & Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
    eDepartment of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117551, Singapore
    fNano Center Indonesia, Jl. PUSPIPTEK South Tangerang, Banten 15314, Indonesia
    gCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, Hunan, China
  • Received:2022-01-26 Accepted:2022-02-09 Online:2022-10-18 Published:2022-09-30
  • Contact: Yun Hau Ng, Xin Li
  • About author:Yun Hau Ng is an associate professor in the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong. He received his PhD from Osaka University in 2009. Before joining City University of Hong Kong, he was a lecturer (2014) and senior lecturer (2016) in the School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales. His research is focused on the development of novel photoactive semiconductors for sunlight energy conversion. He received the 2021 Kataoka Lectureship Award for Asian and Oceanian Photochemist, the APEC ASPIRE Prize in 2019, Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Chemical Society of Japan in 2018, and Honda-Fujishima Prize by the Electrochemical Society of Japan in 2013.
    Xin Li received his B.S. and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from Zhengzhou University in 2002 and South China University of Technology in 2007, respectively. Then, he joined South China Agricultural University as a faculty staff member, and became a professor in 2017. During 2012 and 2019, he worked as a visiting scholar at the Electrochemistry Center, the University of Texas at Austin, and Department of Chemistry, the University of Utah, respectively. His research interests include photocatalysis, photoelectrochemistry, adsorption, biomass engineering and the related materials and devices development (see http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-2698-2011).
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(21975084);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51672089);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51972287);National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2004172);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51502269);Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2021A1515010075);General Program of Science and Technology Innovation Committee of Shenzhen Municipality(JCYJ20190808181805621);Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC) General Research Fund(GRF 11305419)

Abstract:

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been widely used in heterogeneous catalysis owing to the maximum utilization of metal-active sites with controlled structures and well-defined locations. Upon tailored coordination with nitrogen atom, the metal-nitrogen (M-N)-based SACs have demonstrated interesting physical, optical and electronic properties and have become intense in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in the past decade. Despite substantial efforts in constructing various M-N-based SACs, the principles for modulating the intrinsic photocatalytic and electrocatalytic performance of their active sites and catalytic mechanism have not been sufficiently studied. Herein, the present review intends to shed some light on recent research made in studying the correlation between intrinsic electronic structure, catalytic mechanism, single-metal atom (SMA) confinement and their photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities (conversion, selectivity, stability and etc). Based on the analysis of fundamentals of M-N-based SACs, theoretical calculations and experimental investigations, including synthetic methods and characterization techniques, are both included to provide an integral understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind improved coordination structure and observed activity. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for constructing highly active M-N based photocatalysis and electrocatalysis SACs are provided. In particular, extensive technical and mechanism aspects are thoroughly discussed, summarized and analyzed for promoting further advancement of M-N-based SACs in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.

Key words: N-coordinated single-atom catalyst, Photocatalysis, Electrocatalysis, Electronic structure, Active site