Ultrafast energy-neutral molecular oxygen activation via atomically-adjacent bimetallic catalytic sites.

ABSTRACT: Activating ground-state molecular oxygen (O₂) without added oxidants or external energy is a central challenge in aerobic catalysis because triplet O₂ imposes spin and electron-transfer constraints. Herein, we report a high-rate, energy-neutral O₂ activation platform that converts ambient air O₂ directly to singlet oxygen (¹O₂) under room-temperature, bias-free conditions. By engineering atomically adjacent Co-Mo dual sites, Co-Mo d-d coupling and electron delocalization create a short-range electron transfer pathway that strengthens O₂ adsorption, weaken the O-O bond via π* orbital population, and limit solvent-induced dissipation, thereby favoring selective ¹O₂ formation. These features ena

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12848088 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature