Polycondensation as a Universal Method for Preparing High‐Density Single‐Atom Catalyst Libraries

J Jaques‐Christopher Schmidt (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) J Jan Romano‐deGea (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) D Dragos C. Stoian (The Swiss‐Norwegian Beamlines (SNBL) European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Grenoble 38000 France) M Mounir Mensi (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), X-Ray Diffraction and Surface Analytics Platform (XRDSAP)) M Miyeon Chang (Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis (LSCI), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering) A Ariana Serban (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) S Satyadeep Waiba (Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany) X Xinbang Wu L Lindsey E. K. Frederiksen (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) R Rosie J. Somerville (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) R Roland C. Turnell‐Ritson (Department of Chemistry Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK) X Xunhui Wang (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne Switzerland) L Laura Piveteau (Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques (ISIC)) D Daniel Ortiz (Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) N Niccolò Martinolli (Nanoelectronic Devices Laboratory (Nanolab) Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) D David Reyes (Interdisciplinary Center for Electron Microscopy) J Jordi Espín T Timo M. O. Felder (Laboratory for Functional Inorganic Materials (LFIM), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC)) S Stefano Di Leone (Swiss Cat+ West Hub École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) P Pascal Miéville (Swiss Cat+ West Hub École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland) S Shoubhik Das (Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany) P Paul J. Dyson

Abstract

AbstractSingle‐atom catalysts (SACs) present a promising subclass of classic heterogeneous catalysts by maximizing metal dispersion and enhancing efficiency. Although high‐density SACs (HD‐SACs) are reported, their synthesis is typically constrained to specific metal‐support combinations and high‐temperature annealing, limiting their translation to wider applications. Herein, a universal bottom‐up approach for the preparation of mono‐ and bimetallic HD‐SACs based on the polycondensation of 1,2,4,5‐benzenetetramine with a wide range of metal monomers containing 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione ligands is introduced. The synthesized materials are atomically dispersed and exhibit metal loadings up to 27.5 wt% with high structural stability. Their versatility as catalysts is explored in electrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications. The materials exhibit remarkable stability under operational conditions. Furthermore, this synthetic strategy is scaled up and automated, demonstrating the robustness and reproducibility and laying the groundwork for self‐optimizing data‐driven materials discovery.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 38
Published September 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (22)

J

Jaques‐Christopher Schmidt

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

J

Jan Romano‐deGea

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

D

Dragos C. Stoian

The Swiss‐Norwegian Beamlines (SNBL) European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Grenoble 38000 France

M

Mounir Mensi

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), X-Ray Diffraction and Surface Analytics Platform (XRDSAP)

M

Miyeon Chang

Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis (LSCI), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering

A

Ariana Serban

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

S

Satyadeep Waiba

Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

X

Xinbang Wu

L

Lindsey E. K. Frederiksen

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

R

Rosie J. Somerville

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

R

Roland C. Turnell‐Ritson

Department of Chemistry Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK

X

Xunhui Wang

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne Switzerland

L

Laura Piveteau

Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques (ISIC)

D

Daniel Ortiz

Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

N

Niccolò Martinolli

Nanoelectronic Devices Laboratory (Nanolab) Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

D

David Reyes

Interdisciplinary Center for Electron Microscopy

J

Jordi Espín

T

Timo M. O. Felder

Laboratory for Functional Inorganic Materials (LFIM), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC)

S

Stefano Di Leone

Swiss Cat+ West Hub École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

P

Pascal Miéville

Swiss Cat+ West Hub École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne 1015 Switzerland

S

Shoubhik Das

Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

P

Paul J. Dyson