Abrasion (mechanical)

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Nickel

Copper

Atom (system on chip)

Composite number

Engineering

Catalysis

Carbon fibers

Embedded system

Composite material

Chemistry

Metallurgy

Materials science

Computer science

Metal

Chemical engineering

Cobalt

Nature Nanotechnology

Single-atom catalysts have recently attracted considerable attention because of their highly efficient metal utilization and unique properties. Finding a green, facile method to synthesize them is key to their widespread commercialization. Here we show that single-atom catalysts (including iron, cobalt, nickel and copper) can be prepared via a top-down abrasion method, in which the bulk metal is directly atomized onto different supports, such as carbon frameworks, oxides and nitrides. The level of metal loading can be easily tuned by changing the abrasion rate. No synthetic chemicals, solvents or even water were used in the process and no by-products or waste were generated. The underlying reaction mechanism involves the mechanochemical force in situ generating defects on the supports, then trapping and stably sequestering atomized metals. A solvent-free and zero-waste method was reported for the synthesis of single-atom catalysts via abrading bulk metal into single atoms. This strategy works for different metals (iron, cobalt, nickel and copper or their alloys) and supports (carbons, oxides or nitrides).

Abrading bulk metal into single atoms