A universal strategy for single-atom synthesis using conductive polymer-modified metal–organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalysis

Abstract

The single-atom catalyst (SAC) family is known for its maximum atom utilization efficiency and impressive catalytic activity in a broad range of chemical reactions, while the general yet scalable synthetic methods for SACs remain largely unexplored. We established a SAC library under solvothermal conditions using conductive polymer-modified metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as a universal platform. Upon coating the conductive polymer polydopamine (PDA) onto the surface of MOFs, metal precursors experienced facile adsorption by PDA chelating and subsequent reduction to afford a series of MOF@P-M₁ SACs (e.g., Pt, Pd, Ru, Ag, Co, Ni, and Cu). The proposed strategy finds its universality by successful preparation of SACs on different MOF matrices (e.g., Ti-MOF, NH₂-UiO-66 and MOF-808). Taking the Ti-MOF as an example, the photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of Ti-MOF@P-Pt₁ SACs reached high values up to 4193 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which was 127 and 1.7 times higher than that of bare Ti-MOF and its nanoparticle (NP) counterpart Ti-MOF@P-Pt_NP, respectively. This work rationalizes a conductive polymer-assisted synthesis of SAs on MOF surfaces, which could provide a valuable platform for the synthesis of SAs on organic or inorganic material surfaces.