General synthesis of single-atom catalysts with high metal loading using graphene quantum dots

Transition-metal single-atom catalysts present extraordinary activity per metal atomic site, but suffer from low metal-atom densities (typically less than 5 wt% or 1 at.%), which limits their overall catalytic performance. Here we report a general method for the synthesis of with high transition-metal-atom loadings up to 40 3.8 at.%, representing several-fold improvements compared benchmarks in literature. Graphene quantum dots, later interweaved into carbon matrix, were used as support, providing numerous anchoring sites and thus facilitating generation transition-metal atoms sufficient spacing between avoid aggregation. A significant increase electrochemical CO2 reduction (used representative reaction) was demonstrated on Ni catalyst increased loading. display excellent atom Now, use graphene-quantum-dot primary has enabled 3.84 at.%.