Pt Single Atoms on TiO Can Catalyze Water Oxidation in Photoelectrochemical Experiments.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting on n-type semiconductors is highly dependent on catalysis of the rate-determining reaction of O evolution. Conventionally, in electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry O evolution is catalyzed by metal oxide catalysts like IrO and RuO, whereas noble metals such as Pt are considered unsuitable for this purpose. However, our study finds that Pt, in its single-atom form, exhibits exceptional cocatalytic properties for photoelectrochemical water oxidation on a TiO photoanode, in contrast to Pt in a nanoparticle form. The decoration of Pt single atoms onto TiO yields a remarkable current density of 5.89 mA cm at 1.23 V, surpassing bare TiO (or Pt nanoparticle decorated TiO) by 2.52 times. Notably, this enhancement remains consistent over a wide pH range. By accompanying theoretical work, we assign this significant enhancement to an improved charge transfer and separation efficiency along with accelerated kinetics in the oxygen evolution reaction facilitated by the presence of Pt single atoms on the TiO surface.