In a recent high-impact study, researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia in collaboration with scientists from SESAME, published in ScienceDirect journal (Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports; Impact Factor: 31.6) have developed a novel method for fabricating single-atom catalysts (SACs) on 2D MoS₂ sheets. The findings offer a pathway to develop high-performance catalysts with tailored properties for advanced technological applications. It illustrates an innovative approach to enhancing metal atom utilization efficiency, a critical advancement for applications in electrochemical energy conversion, heterogeneous catalysis, and ultra-sensitive sensing technologies.
Leveraging the advanced X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) technique at SESAME, the team achieved element-specific insights into the local structure and electronic states of the anchored single atoms. This validation is essential for confirming the true atomic dispersion and understanding their interactions with the MoS₂ support. XAFS was pivotal in this study because it provided a direct, quantitative, and element-specific probe of the local structure and electronic state of single atoms on MoS₂. Thus, this insight not only validates the electrochemical dissolution synthesis method but also paves the way for the rational design of SACs with tailored catalytic properties, reducing the reliance on expensive noble metals and contributing to more sustainable catalytic processes.
The details of the finding can be found in the published manuscript:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mser.2025.101009
S. S. Shetty, A. Bukhamsin, M. Soto Martinez, M. Harfouche, S. Singh, M. Ghadiyali, M. N. Hedhili, S. Yuvaraja, U. Schwingenschlogl, K. N. Salama
Fig.1 -
Left: XAFS data collected at the K-edge of Cu and LIII-edge of Au compared with different Cu and Au references, and the EXAFS fitting.
Right: Investigation of the SACs electrochemical performance and stability. (a-d) CV scans of Cu SAC, Pt SAC, Au SAC, and bare LSGE, respectively, in 5 mM K₃[Fe(CN)₆] at different scan rates in addition to the Nyquist plot of the Cu SAC, Pt SAC, Au SAC, MoS2 and bare LSGEs.