Synthesis of single-atom catalysts with reactive oxygen species-scavenging activity via the dynamic crystal structure transition of coordination polymers

Abstract

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as a research hotspot in catalysis due to their near-100% atomic utilization efficiency and unique electronic structures. However, their practical application is hindered by traditional synthesis methods, which often induce metal aggregation and fail to achieve precise control over carrier structures. Herein, a breakthrough strategy for synthesizing SACs using the dynamic structural transformation of coordination polymers (CPs) is proposed. Solvent H₂O drives the transformation of the CP crystal structure from two-dimensional to one-dimensional, simultaneously triggering a drastic morphological evolution from bulk to nanosheets. Through the controlled cleavage of Cu–O coordination bonds and the synchronous reduction of partial Cu coordination centers, SACs are directly anchored on CP-derived carriers via a one-step process. This strategy ingeniously exploits the solvent-responsive structural dynamics of CPs, circumventing the destruction of carrier crystallinity caused by high-temperature treatments, and provides a novel approach for the controllable synthesis of SACs. Moreover, the synthesized SACs demonstrate exceptional ROS-scavenging capabilities, effectively alleviating oxidative stress and accelerating wound healing in diabetic mice.