Cited by 542CO2 Reduction Techniques and CatalystsElectrocatalysts for Energy ConversionCatalytic Processes in Materials Science

Single-atom catalysts for CO 2 electroreduction with significant activity and selectivity improvements

Open access
Back, Seoin, Lim, Juhyung, Kim, Na-Young, Kim, Yong-Hyun, Jung, Yousung·2017·Chemical Science

Abstract

We propose the great potential of single atom catalysts (SACs) for CO 2 electroreduction with high activity and selectivity predictions over a competitive H 2 evolution reaction. We find the lack of an atomic ensemble for adsorbate binding and unique electronic structure of the single atom catalysts play an important role.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This DFT study proposes single transition metal atoms anchored on defective graphene as CO₂ electroreduction catalysts with improved activity and selectivity over the competing H₂ evolution reaction. Pt@dv-Gr is predicted to produce CH₃OH with a limiting potential of –0.27 V, substantially less negative than conventional transition metal catalysts.

Key findings

  • Most considered single-atom catalysts (SACs) favor initial protonation to *COOH or *OCHO over *H, indicating CRR selectivity over HER. Ni@dv-Gr and Pt@dv-Gr show limiting potentials of –0.41 and –0.27 V for CH₃OH production, while Os@dv-Gr and Ru@dv-Gr both show –0.52 V for CH₄ production.
  • For Pt@dv-Gr, the potential-determining step is *CO → *CHO with ΔG = 0.27 eV, compared with *CO → *COH with ΔG = 0.75 eV on Pt(211). The destabilization of *CO (0.98 eV) is much larger than that of *CHO (0.42 eV), leading to a 0.49 V reduction in the limiting potential.
  • SACs break the conventional *CO versus *CHO scaling relation due to the lack of an atomic ensemble—one Pt–C bond on Pt@dv-Gr versus two Pt–C bonds on Pt(211)—and strong metal–support electronic interactions. For Ag, Au, and Cu SACs, a completely filled d⁸ configuration leads to partial occupation of antibonding orbitals during *CHO binding, weakening *CHO binding and causing a positive deviation from the scaling relation.

Methods

  • Spin-polarized DFT calculations were performed in VASP with PAW pseudopotentials, the RPBE exchange functional, van der Waals correction, a 500 eV plane-wave cutoff, and a 4 × 4 × 1 Monkhorst–Pack k-point mesh. A 24-carbon supercell with a single or double vacancy and 15 Å vacuum was used to model M@sv-Gr and M@dv-Gr for M = Ag, Au, Co, Cu, Fe, Ir, Ni, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ru.
  • Free energy profiles were constructed using the computational hydrogen electrode approach, with limiting potential U_L = –ΔG_MAX/e. Zero-point energy, enthalpy, and entropy corrections were calculated using a harmonic oscillator approximation at 298.15 K, with approximate solvation corrections stabilizing *COOH by 0.25 eV, *CO by 0.1 eV, and *OH by 0.5 eV.
  • Binding energies, Bader charge analysis, density of states, and optimized geometries were used to compare SACs with transition metal (211) surfaces. Only mono-carbon products were considered because the lack of a metal ensemble in SACs was expected to prevent C–C coupling.

Limitations

  • The paper states several assumptions and constraints: the Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi relation is used to assume lower free energies correspond to greater selectivity; only mono-carbon products are considered; the computational unit cell represents high coverage of a single metal atom; approximate solvation corrections are employed; and coverage effects are assumed absent because active sites are isolated.
  • Evident from the text: the work is purely computational DFT prediction without experimental synthesis or testing, and it is limited to a specific set of 12 transition metals on defective graphene supports. The paper does not include a dedicated limitations section.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1039/c6sc03911a

Cites

43 of 43 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 33 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The major bonding interaction between *CO and Pt@dv-Gr is the Pt(dz2)-C(pz) σ bond along the z-direction at around -7 eV.

    “As shown in Fig. 7 and S3,† the major bonding interaction between *CO and Pt@dv-Gr is the Pt(dz 2)–C(pz) σ bond along the z-direction at around –7 eV (denoted (i) in Fig. 7A).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The Pt atom in Pt@dv-Gr is positively charged (oxidized) by electron transfer from the Pt atom to the defective graphene support, with 0.79 e transferred from Bader population analysis.

    “A differential charge density map (Fig. S2C†) between the defective graphene and Pt@dv-Gr also suggests that the Pt atom is positively charged (oxidized) by electron transfer from the Pt atom to the defective graphene support (0.79 e from Bader population analysis, Table S1†).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Most transition metal atoms have favorable and sufficiently strong binding with single or double vacancy sites of graphene.

    “Most of the metals have favorable and sufficiently strong binding with the aforementioned defect sites of graphene.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingreasoning

    For Pt@dv-Gr, only one Pt atom is utilized for both *CO and *CHO binding, resulting in a much more moderate destabilization of relative free energies compared to Pt(211).

    “On the other hand, for Pt@dv-Gr, only one Pt atom is utilized by definition for both *CO and *CHO binding, resulting in the much more moderate destabilization of the relative free energies compared to Pt (211).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For Ag@dv-Gr and Au@dv-Gr, the same completely filled d8-block elements as in Cu are confirmed.

    “To further validate this interpretation, we performed the same analysis for Ag@dv-Gr and Au@dv-Gr, and confirmed the same completely filled d8-block elements as in Cu.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 14
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 2
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The potential determining step of CO2 reduction on Pt@dv-Gr is protonation of *CO to *CHO (ΔG = 0.27 eV), whereas on Pt(211) it is *CO to *COH (ΔG = 0.75 eV).

    “Notably, as shown in Fig. 4, the PDS of CO2 reduction on Pt@dv-Gr vs. Pt (211) is the protonation of *CO to form *CHO (ΔG = 0.27 eV) vs. *COH (ΔG = 0.75 eV).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Among the considered SACs, Ni@dv-Gr and Pt@dv-Gr have limiting potentials of -0.41 and -0.27 V for CH3OH production, while Os@dv-Gr and Ru@dv-Gr both have limiting potentials of -0.52 V for CH4 production.

    “Among the considered SACs, Ni@dv-Gr and Pt@dv-Gr showed a U L of –0.41 and –0.27 V, respectively, for CH3OH production, while Os@dv-Gr and Ru@dv-Gr both showed a U L of –0.52 V for CH4 production.”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusions · plain
      “Among the considered SACs, Ni@dv-Gr and Pt@dv-Gr showed a U L of –0.41 and –0.27 V for CH3OH production, while Os@dv-Gr and Ru@dv-Gr both showed a U L of –0.52 V for CH4 production.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For Pt(211), two surface Pt atoms are involved in *CO bonding, while only one Pt atom bonds with *CHO upon further protonation, leading to a large destabilization of relative free energies when going from *CO to *CHO.

    “One can immediately see that, for Pt (211), two surface Pt atoms are involved in *CO bonding, while only one Pt atom bonds with *CHO upon further protonation, leading to a large destabilization of relative free energies when going from *CO to *CHO.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    With Pt@dv-Gr, all reaction intermediates are destabilized compared to Pt(211), and the destabilization of *CO (0.98 eV) is much more noticeable than that of *CHO (0.42 eV), leading to a 0.49 V reduction in the limiting potential.

    “In Fig. 4, it is visually clear that, with the Pt@dv-Gr catalyst, all reaction intermediates are destabilized compared to those on Pt (211), but most importantly, the destabilization of *CO (0.98 eV) is much more noticeable than that of *CHO (0.42 eV), leading to a 0.49 V reduction in the limiting potential.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For Co, Fe and Rh, binding to sv-Gr is more favorable than to dv-Gr, while for all other considered metals, dv-Gr binds the metal more strongly.

    “In detail, for Co, Fe and Rh, the sv-Gr binding is more favorable than the dv-Gr binding, but for all other cases, the dv-Gr binds the metals more strongly.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Bader charge analysis indicates significant electron transfer from the metal atoms to graphene in all cases, confirming strong covalent interactions between the partially positively charged metal atom and graphene.

    “Bader charge analysis30,31 indicates that, as expected, significant amounts of electrons in the metal atoms are transferred to the graphene in all cases, confirming the strong covalent interactions between the partially positively charged metal atom and the graphene”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [30]

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [31] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Ag@dv-Gr and Au@dv-Gr, antibonding states originating from interaction of metal dz2 and C(pz) are partially filled, leading to destabilization of *CHO and positive deviation from the usual *CO vs. *CHO scaling relation.

    “Indeed, we observe that the antibonding states originating from the interaction of metal dz 2 and C(pz) are partially filled (Fig. S5†) in these elements also, leading to the destabilization of *CHO, and eventually the positive deviation from the usual *CO vs. *CHO scaling relation shown in Fig. 5.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Most SACs are below the parity line for the first protonation step, meaning formation of *COOH or *OCHO is more favorable than *H, so single metal sites can be effectively utilized for CRR rather than HER.

    “As seen from the results summarized in Fig. 2, most SACs are below the parity line that determines the selectivity for CRR vs. HER, meaning that it is more favorable to form either *COOH or *OCHO than *H, and single metal sites can be effectively utilized for CRR rather than HER.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Reactions with lower free energies are more selective.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Partial occupancy of the antibonding orbital in Cu@dv-Gr weakens metal-*CHO binding, and with a lack of such antibonding occupancy for *CO binding, the relative *CO vs. *CHO free energy difference that determines the limiting potential significantly increases for Cu@dv-Gr compared to Pt@dv-Gr.

    “This partial occupancy of the antibonding orbital in Cu@dv-Gr weakens the metal–*CHO binding strength, and with a lack of such antibonding occupancy for *CO binding, the relative *CO vs. *CHO free energy difference that determines the limiting potential significantly increases for Cu@dv-Gr compared to Pt@dv-Gr.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The lack of an atomic ensemble for adsorbate binding and the unique electronic structure of single-atom catalysts play an important role in their CO2 electroreduction behavior.

    “We find the lack of an atomic ensemble for adsorbate binding and unique electronic structure of the single atom catalysts play an important role.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Pt only fills the bonding orbital via orbital mixing due to a single occupancy in the dxz orbital that can interact with the C(pz) orbital of *CHO.

    “By contrast, Pt only fills the bonding orbital via orbital mixing due to a single occupancy in the dxz orbital that can interact with the C(pz) orbital of *CHO.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In experiments, polycrystalline Ni and Pt produced H2 gas as a major product almost exclusively and only a trace of CH4 at -1.08 V and -0.67 V vs. RHE, respectively, while Cu produced CH4, C2H4, and H2 in similar amounts at -1.05 V vs. RHE.

    “However, in an experiment for the CO2 reduction reaction, polycrystalline Ni and Pt produced H2 gas as a major product almost exclusively and only a trace of CH4 with a total current density of 5 mA cm–2 at –1.08 V and –0.67 V vs. RHE, respectively, while Cu produced CH4, C2H4, and H2 in similar amounts with a total current density of 5 mA cm–2 at –1.05 V vs. RHE.35”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [35] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The theoretical limiting potentials for CH4 production on Ni (211), Pt (211) and Cu (211) surfaces are -0.7 to -0.8 V vs. RHE.

    “For example, the theoretical limiting potentials for CH4 production on Ni (211), Pt (211) and Cu (211) surfaces are –0.7 to –0.8 V vs. RHE.4”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [4] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The origin of dominant H2 production during CO2 reduction on strong *CO binding catalysts such as Ni and Pt has been suggested to be that *H binding energies shift toward being weaker as *CO coverage increases due to repulsive interaction between *CO and *H, making Ni and Pt more active for HER.

    “The origin of the dominant H2 production during the CO2 reduction reaction has been suggested to be that for strong *CO binding catalysts such as Ni and Pt, the *H binding energies shift toward being weaker as the coverage of *CO increases due to a repulsive interaction between *CO and *H. This then makes Ni and Pt catalysts more active for the HER”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [8] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [36] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The completely filled d8 electron configuration leads to partial occupation of antibonding orbitals during *CHO binding for Ag, Au, and Cu based SACs, weakening *CHO binding and increasing the limiting potential.

    “By analyzing the decomposed density of states, we found that the completely filled d8 electron configuration leads to the partial occupation of antibonding orbitals during the *CHO binding for the Ag, Au, and Cu based SACs, weakening the *CHO binding and increasing the limiting potential.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Strong metal-support interaction affects the electronic structure of a metal atom in SACs greatly, which then determines catalytic properties of the SACs.

    “A strong metal–support interaction affects the electronic structure of a metal atom in SACs greatly, which then determines catalytic properties of the SACs.11–13”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [11] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [12] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [13] source

      Not checked in the free run.

16 of 16
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Reactions with lower free energies are more selective.

    “Based on the Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi relation, which correlates reaction barriers with reaction energies,33,34 we assumed that reactions with lower free energies are more selective.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The lack of a metal ensemble in single metal catalysts prevents C–C coupling reactions between reaction intermediates to form multi-carbon adducts.

    “In this work, only mono-carbon products are considered to form on the SACs since the lack of a metal ensemble in single metal catalysts is expected to prevent C–C coupling reactions between reaction intermediates to form multi-carbon adducts.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    There are no coverage effects on SACs as in conventional metal catalysts because all active sites are isolated.

    “However, since all the active sites of the SACs are isolated, we suppose that there are no such coverage effects as in conventional metal catalysts”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Tang, 2009, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 21, 084204

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Back, S., Lim, J., Kim, N.-Y., Kim, Y.-H., & Jung, Y.
Affiliations
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
Corresponding author
Jung, Yousung
Venue
Chemical Science
Published
2017
Volume
8
Issue
2
Pages
1090-1096
ISSN
  • 2041-6520 (ISSN-L)
  • 2041-6539
OpenAlex
W2521736035
Cited by
542
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 76 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 26
FWCI
12.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Chemical Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2015R1A2A1A15055539, NRF-2016M3D1A1021147)
  • KAIST (EEWS-2016-N11160016)
  • Agency for Defense Development (ADD) (UD140047GD)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Catalytic Processes in Materials Science
Keywords
single-atom catalysts, electrochemical CO2 reduction, adsorbate binding energy, electronic structure, orbital interactions, transition metal catalysts, scaling laws

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review