Perspective for Single Atom Nanozymes Based Sensors: Advanced Materials, Sensing Mechanism, Selectivity Regulation, and Applications

Single-atom catalysts (SACs), consisting of metals atomically dispersed on a support, are considered as advanced materials bridging homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, representing the catalysis at the limit. The enhanced performance of these catalysts is due to the combination of distinct factors such as well-defined active sites, comprising metal single atoms in different coordination environments also varying its valence state and strongly interacting with the support, in this case porous carbons, maximizing then the metal efficiency in comparison with other metal surfaces consisting of metal clusters and/or metal nanoparticles. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent advances in terms of both synthetic strategies of producing porous carbon-derived SACs but also its application to green synthesis of highly valuable compounds, an area in which the homogeneous catalysts are classically used. Porous carbon-derived SACs emerge as a type of new and eco-friendly catalysts with great potential. Different types of carbon forms, such as multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene and graphitic carbon nitride or even others porous carbons derived from Metal–Organic-Frameworks (MOFs) are recognized. Although it represents an area of expansion, experimentally and theoretically, much more future efforts are needed to explore them in green fine chemical synthesis.

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Single-atom Cu anchored catalysts for photocatalytic renewable H2 production with a quantum efficiency of 56%

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-27698-3 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yumin Zhang ◽

Jianhong Zhao ◽

Hui Wang ◽

Bin Xiao ◽

Wen Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantum Efficiency ◽

H2 Production ◽

Advanced Materials ◽

Single Atom ◽

Simulated Solar Light ◽

Single Atoms ◽

Highly Dispersed ◽

Apparent Quantum Efficiency ◽

Loading Amount ◽

Excellent Stability

AbstractSingle-atom catalysts anchoring offers a desirable pathway for efficiency maximization and cost-saving for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, the single-atoms loading amount is always within 0.5% in most of the reported due to the agglomeration at higher loading concentrations. In this work, the highly dispersed and large loading amount (>1 wt%) of copper single-atoms were achieved on TiO2, exhibiting the H2 evolution rate of 101.7 mmol g−1 h−1 under simulated solar light irradiation, which is higher than other photocatalysts reported, in addition to the excellent stability as proved after storing 380 days. More importantly, it exhibits an apparent quantum efficiency of 56% at 365 nm, a significant breakthrough in this field. The highly dispersed and large amount of Cu single-atoms incorporation on TiO2 enables the efficient electron transfer via Cu2+-Cu+ process. The present approach paves the way to design advanced materials for remarkable photocatalytic activity and durability.

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Single Atom Image Contrast in Fixed Beam Dark Field Electron Microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100051840 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 366-367

Author(s):

Wah Chi

Keyword(s):

Scattering Amplitude ◽

Present Report ◽

Dark Field ◽

Image Contrast ◽

Single Atom ◽

Optical Theorem ◽

Hartree Fock ◽

Heavy Atoms ◽

Beam Stop ◽

Fixed Beam

Resolution and contrast are the important factors to determine the feasibility of imaging single heavy atoms on a thin substrate in an electron microscope. The present report compares the atom image characteristics in different modes of fixed beam dark field microscopy including the ideal beam stop (IBS), a wire beam stop (WBS), tilted illumination (Tl) and a displaced aperture (DA). Image contrast between one Hg and a column of linearly aligned carbon atoms (representing the substrate), are also discussed. The assumptions in the present calculations are perfectly coherent illumination, atom object is represented by spherically symmetric potential derived from Relativistic Hartree Fock Slater wave functions, phase grating approximation is used to evaluate the complex scattering amplitude, inelastic scattering is ignored, phase distortion is solely due to defocus and spherical abberation, and total elastic scattering cross section is evaluated by the Optical Theorem. The atom image intensities are presented in a Z-modulation display, and the details of calculation are described elsewhere.

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Atomic Spectroscopy in the FIM

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100145157 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 758-761

Author(s):

J. J. Hren ◽

S. D. Walck

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Electric Fields ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Atomic Spectroscopy ◽

Single Atom ◽

Statistical Sampling ◽

Commercial Instrument ◽

Available Technology ◽

High Electric Fields ◽

Field Ion Microscope

The field ion microscope (FIM) has had the ability to routinely image the surface atoms of metals since Mueller perfected it in 1956. Since 1967, the TOF Atom Probe has had single atom sensitivity in conjunction with the FIM. “Why then hasn't the FIM enjoyed the success of the electron microscope?” The answer is closely related to the evolution of FIM/Atom Probe techniques and the available technology. This paper will review this evolution from Mueller's early discoveries, to the development of a viable commercial instrument. It will touch upon some important contributions of individuals and groups, but will not attempt to be all inclusive. Variations in instrumentation that define the class of problems for which the FIM/AP is uniquely suited and those for which it is not will be described. The influence of high electric fields inherent to the technique on the specimens studied will also be discussed. The specimen geometry as it relates to preparation, statistical sampling and compatibility with the TEM will be examined.

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Biomimetic materials: An introduction

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100129735 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 1020-1021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Sarikaya ◽

J. T. Staley ◽

I. A. Aksay

Keyword(s):

Self Assembly ◽

Structural Control ◽

Hierarchical Structures ◽

Ceramic Composites ◽

Advanced Materials ◽

Length Scale ◽

Spider Webs ◽

Biomimetic Materials ◽

Synthetic Materials ◽

All Ceramic

Biomimetics is an area of research in which the analysis of structures and functions of natural materials provide a source of inspiration for design and processing concepts for novel synthetic materials. Through biomimetics, it may be possible to establish structural control on a continuous length scale, resulting in superior structures able to withstand the requirements placed upon advanced materials. It is well recognized that biological systems efficiently produce complex and hierarchical structures on the molecular, micrometer, and macro scales with unique properties, and with greater structural control than is possible with synthetic materials. The dynamism of these systems allows the collection and transport of constituents; the nucleation, configuration, and growth of new structures by self-assembly; and the repair and replacement of old and damaged components. These materials include all-organic components such as spider webs and insect cuticles (Fig. 1); inorganic-organic composites, such as seashells (Fig. 2) and bones; all-ceramic composites, such as sea urchin teeth, spines, and other skeletal units (Fig. 3); and inorganic ultrafine magnetic and semiconducting particles produced by bacteria and algae, respectively (Fig. 4).

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Field ion microscope investigations of atomic processes at surfaces

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100153117 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 228-229

Author(s):

G. L. Kellogg ◽

P. R. Schwoebel

Keyword(s):

Single Crystal ◽

Crystal Surface ◽

Linear Chain ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Nucleation And Growth ◽

Single Atom ◽

Initial Structure ◽

Atomic Processes ◽

Single Crystal Surfaces ◽

Field Ion Microscope

Although no longer unique in its ability to resolve individual single atoms on surfaces, the field ion microscope remains a powerful tool for the quantitative characterization of atomic processes on single-crystal surfaces. Investigations of single-atom surface diffusion, adatom-adatom interactions, surface reconstructions, cluster nucleation and growth, and a variety of surface chemical reactions have provided new insights to the atomic nature of surfaces. Moreover, the ability to determine the chemical identity of selected atoms seen in the field ion microscope image by atom-probe mass spectroscopy has increased or even changed our understanding of solid-state-reaction processes such as ordering, clustering, precipitation and segregation in alloys. This presentation focuses on the operational principles of the field-ion microscope and atom-probe mass spectrometer and some very recent applications of the field ion microscope to the nucleation and growth of metal clusters on metal surfaces.The structure assumed by clusters of atoms on a single-crystal surface yields fundamental information on the adatom-adatom interactions important in crystal growth. It was discovered in previous investigations with the field ion microscope that, contrary to intuition, the initial structure of clusters of Pt, Pd, Ir and Ni atoms on W(110) is a linear chain oriented in the <111> direction of the substrate.

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Recent advancement in the electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia

Nanoscale ◽

10.1039/d0nr01359e ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (15) ◽

pp. 8065-8094 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Xudong Wen ◽

Jingqi Guan

Keyword(s):

Metal Oxide ◽

Oxide Catalysts ◽

Single Atom ◽

Metal Oxide Catalysts ◽

Metal Free ◽

Recent Advancement ◽

Nanocomposite Catalysts

Different kinds of electrocatalysts used in NRR electrocatalysis (including single atom catalysts, metal oxide catalysts, nanocomposite catalysts, and metal free catalysts) are introduced.

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