biostudies-literatureYang ZNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)3734https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6700197biostudies-literatureUnknown10(1)Single-atom metal catalysts have sparked tremendous attention, but direct transformation of cheap and easily obtainable bulk metal oxide into single atoms is still a great challenge. Here we report a facile and versatile gas-transport strategy to synthesize isolated single-atom copper sites (Cu ISAS/NC) catalyst at gram levels. Commercial copper (I) oxide powder is sublimated as mobile vapor at nearly melting temperature (1500 K) and subsequently can be trapped and reduced by the defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon (NC), forming the isolated copper sites catalyst. Strikingly, this thermally stable Cu ISAS/NC, which is obtained above 1270 K, delivers excellent oxygen reduction performance possessing a recorded half-wave potential of 0.92 V vs RHE among other Cu-based electrocatalysts. By varying metal oxide precursors, we demonstrate the universal synthesis of different metal single atoms anchored on NC materials (M ISAS/NC, where M refers to Mo and Sn). This strategy is readily scalable and the as-prepared sintering-resistant M ISAS/NC catalysts hold great potential in high-temperature applications.Nature communicationsDirectly transforming copper (I) oxide bulk into isolated single-atom copper sites catalyst through gas-transport approach.PMC67001972180213221522107, 21671180Yang ZZhao CXu QChen WQu YZhou FChen BZhang QDuan XWu YfalseDirectly transforming copper (I) oxide bulk into isolated single-atom copper sites catalyst through gas-transport approach.Single-atom metal catalysts have sparked tremendous attention, but direct transformation of cheap and easily obtainable bulk metal oxide into single atoms is still a great challenge. Here we report a facile and versatile gas-transport strategy to synthesize isolated single-atom copper sites (Cu ISAS/NC) catalyst at gram levels. Commercial copper (I) oxide powder is sublimated as mobile vapor at nearly melting temperature (1500 K) and subsequently can be trapped and reduced by the defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon (NC), forming the isolated copper sites catalyst. Strikingly, this thermally stable Cu ISAS/NC, which is obtained above 1270 K, delivers excellent oxygen reduction performance possessing a recorded half-wave potential of 0.92 V vs RHE among other Cu-based electrocatalysts. By varying metal oxide precursors, we demonstrate the universal synthesis of different metal single atoms anchored on NC materials (M ISAS/NC, where M refers to Mo and Sn). This strategy is readily scalable and the as-prepared sintering-resistant M ISAS/NC catalysts hold great potential in high-temperature applications.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Aug2024-10-18T14:46:34.579Z2019-08-26T07:03:53ZS-EPMC67001973142757210.1038/s41467-019-11796-4