Fundamentals of Atomically Dispersed Metallic Materials

Abstract

Atomically dispersed metallic materials have shown great performance and promising potential in catalysis fields due to their distinct structure and nearly 100% atom utilization efficiencies, which acquired increasing attention in recent years. Herein, we give a comprehensive summary of the key points in these fields. Some relevant definitions, which reported about atomically dispersed metallic materials, are distinguished firstly for clarification. Then, the development history of atomically dispersed active sites is briefly introduced. After that, the unique features and structural sensitivity of the performance of atomically dispersed metallic materials, including size, support, coordination, and electronic effects, are discussed thoroughly. In particular, this chapter emphasizes the role of support and coordination environment on the metal active sites due to the high correlation of atomically dispersed sites with neighbor atoms. Considering the universality, we classify the atomically dispersed metallic materials into single-atom materials, diatomic materials, and nanocluster materials because of the common feature of atomic dispersion. The catalytic application, common supports used, and the highest loading achieved of different elements in single-atom catalysts are illustrated in detail. Finally, some technical challenges and prospects worth to be solved and studied in the future are analyzed.