@article{Zhang2026, 
author = {Zhenfei Zhang and Mengjiao Li and Hongli Jia and Meiling Hao and Rong Jiang and Ruhao Wang and Xiuting Fu and Wanbing Gong and Shao Jin and Haifeng Jiang and Youqi Zhu and Ziyun Wang and Shubo Tian},
title = {Tandem synthesis strategy for atomically precise Pt1/Pt2/Pt3 catalysts: Enhanced nitrobenzene selective hydrogenation via atomic number regulation},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
keywords = {tri-atoms, dual-atoms, single-atoms, nanoparticles, selective hydrogenation},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94909118},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94909118},
abstract = {Atomically precise heterogeneous catalysts offer unprecedented opportunities for establishing clear structure-activity relationships in catalysis. However, the precise control over the number of metal atoms in such systems remains a significant challenge, primarily due to difficulties in maintaining atomic-level dispersion, preventing metal migration and aggregation. This study develops a tandem synthesis strategy combining ligand protection and precursor engineering. First, atomic-level precision precursors Pt1(C44H32P2)2(CO)4, Pt2(C18H12Cl3P)3Br2(CO)1 and Pt3(C18H21P)5(CO)2 are synthesized using mixed ligands. Subsequently, by integrating Joule induction rapid thermal annealing technology, structurally well-defined Pt1/OKB, Pt2/OKB, and Pt3/OKB catalysts are successfully constructed on oxidized Ketjenblack (OKB) support. In mild conditions (60 °C, 0.5 MPa H2) for nitrobenzene selective hydrogenation, the Pt3/OKB catalyst achieves>99% conversion and>99% aniline selectivity, significantly outperforming Pt single-atom, Pt dual-atom, and Pt nanoparticle catalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the unique coordination environment in the triatomic structure optimizes adsorption strength, suppressing excessive benzene ring hydrogenation while facilitating H2 activation and intermediate stabilization, thereby achieving synergistic regulation of activity and selectivity at the atomic scale. This study provides an atomically precise synthetic method for heterogeneous catalysts and elucidates the dependence of catalytic hydrogenation performance on the number of metal atoms.}
}