Efficient fabrication of atomically dispersed platinum catalysts via dopamine chelation and self-assembly

Abstract

The technology of single atom catalysts (SACs) has received considerable attention as a means to maximize the utilization of catalysts. It is an essential technology for commercialization, as it allows for the use of expensive catalysts like platinum with much smaller quantities, leading to improved electrochemical performance. However, challenges remain in the fabrication process due to the high thermal budget and absence of facile methods for the large-scale production. In this study, the unique characteristics of dopamine, which can bond to metal catalysts at the atomic level, and adhere well to all kinds of surfaces, were utilized to enable the facile atomic dispersion of platinum catalysts on a support material without the heat treatment. This fabrication method via dopamine chelation reaction and electrostatic self-assembly is suitable for the large-scale production as all processes take place in a solution phase. Therefore, we propose an effective and universal method for the production of atomically dispersed catalysts on 2D materials, addressing the shortcomings of existing methods. More importantly, we chose Ti3C2Tx MXene as a model substrate, and conducted electrochemical analyses of hydrogen evolution reaction to confirm the effectiveness of this research.