Advances in Synchrotron Radiation‐based X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Characterize the Fine Atomic Structure of Single‐atom Nanozymes. Issue 14 (22nd June 2020) - Fu, Lianlian
Abstract: Single‐atom nanozymes (SAzymes) with high atomic utilization, excellent catalytic activities, and selectivity have recently attracted significant interest. Usually, they contain only isolated metal atoms embedded in host matrices. However, traditional measuring instruments are extremely difficult to obtain their useful structural information due to ultra‐low metal loading, amorphous structure, coordination with light‐weight surface atoms and/or co‐existing of other metal elements. Synchrotron radiation‐based X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS) has demonstrated its usefulness for this type of catalyst. In this mini‐review, we have summarized the recent progress using XAFS to characterize the fine atomic structure of these nanozymes. The synthetic strategies of SAzymes, the principle of XAFS, delicate structural information by XAFS, and the applications of SAzymes have been presented. Furthermore, the outlook and challenges in this active research field have also been discussed. We expect that the help of XAFS can offer a wealth of opportunities to design and develop more efficient SAzymes and apply them to various fields. Abstract : Since the first evidence of single‐atom catalysts as enzyme mimetics reported in 2019, single‐atom nanozymes with high atomic utilization, excellent catalytic activities, and selectivity have attracted ever‐growing interest. However, their fine atomic structures are extremely difficult to be characterized. In this minireview, the recent progress of XAFS in detecting their detailed information, including the electronic structure, coordination environment, and metal‐binding mode, is summarized.