Movable type printing method to synthesize high-entropy single-atom catalysts

Abstract

The controllable anchoring of multiple isolated metal atoms into a single support exhibits scientific and technological opportunities, while the synthesis of catalysts with multiple single metal atoms remains a challenge and has been rarely reported. Herein, we present a general route for anchoring up to eleven metals as highly dispersed single-atom centers on porous nitride-doped carbon supports with the developed movable type printing method, and label them as high-entropy single-atom catalysts. Various high-entropy single-atom catalysts with tunable multicomponent are successfully synthesized with the same method by adjusting only the printing templates and carbonization parameters. To prove utility, quinary high-entropy single-atom catalysts (FeCoNiCuMn) is investigated as oxygen reduction reaction catalyst with much more positive activity and durability than commercial Pt/C catalyst. This work broadens the family of single-atom catalysts and opens a way to investigate highly efficient single-atom catalysts with multiple compositions.