Surpassing the single-atom catalytic activity limit through paired Pt-O-Pt ensemble built from isolated Pt(1) atoms

Despite the maximized metal dispersion offered by single-atom catalysts, further improvement of intrinsic activity can be hindered by the lack of neighboring metal atoms in these systems. Here we report the use of isolated Pt(1) atoms on ceria as “seeds” to develop a Pt-O-Pt ensemble, which is well-represented by a Pt(8)O(14) model cluster that retains 100% metal dispersion. The Pt atom in the ensemble is 100–1000 times more active than their single-atom Pt(1)/CeO(2) parent in catalyzing the low-temperature CO oxidation under oxygen-rich conditions. Rather than the Pt-O-Ce interfacial catalysis, the stable catalytic unit is the Pt-O-Pt site itself without participation of oxygen from the 10–30 nm-size ceria support. Similar Pt-O-Pt sites can be built on various ceria and even alumina, distinguishable by facile activation of oxygen through the paired Pt-O-Pt atoms. Extending this design to other reaction systems is a likely outcome of the findings reported here.