Metal-on-Metal Single Atom Catalysts

R&D Focus Areas:
Computational modelling, Materials modelling, Nanomaterials

Lead Organisation:
University of New South Wales

Partners:
Not applicable

Status:
Active 

Start date:
March 2023

Completion date:
March 2026

Key contacts:
Professor Richard Tilley, University of New South Wales: r.tilley@unsw.edu.au

Funding:
Australian Research Council (Discovery Project – DP230100596)

Project total cost:
AUD$450,000

Project summary description:
Forming active sites with precise positioning of individual atoms is an ultimate goal in catalysis. This project aims to chemically synthesise single metal atoms positioned on metal nanoparticle supports with precise atomic configurations. This enables the single metal atom and support metal to act synergistically for enhanced catalysis. The single atom sites will be understood by the very latest theoretical modelling, in situ electron microscopy and synchrotron spectroscopy techniques. These materials will be used for hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis, a reaction where having an active site with two metals greatly influences activity. The intended outcomes include high performance water splitting electrolysers to generate hydrogen fuel.

Related publications and key links:
A single-Pt-atom-on-Ru-nanoparticle electrocatalyst for CO-resilient methanol oxidation. Nat. Catal. 2022, 5, 231–237

Higher degree studies supported:
Three PhD students are supported by this project.

 

September 2023