Prof. Lele Duan’s group in the Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels at Westlake University recently published a research paper in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, which is titled “[2+1] Cycloadditions Modulate the Hydrophobicity of Ni-N4 Single-Atom Catalysts for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction”.
Duan’s group has successfully tailored the surface microenvironment of a nickel‑based single‑atom catalyst (SAC) by employing a [2+1] cycloaddition strategy for precise fluorination. The resulting catalyst, featuring a superhydrophobic Ni‑N4‑CF2 structure, demonstrates exceptional performance for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂. When tested in a 0.50 M KHCO₃ electrolyte, it achieves a Faradaic efficiency for carbon monoxide (FECO) of nearly 100%. This study provides a clear methodological guide for the surface functionalization of Ni‑N4 SACs via [2+1] cycloaddition. Furthermore, it establishes a novel strategic approach for modifying the local microenvironment of carbon‑supported metal catalysts through covalent surface engineering, opening new avenues for designing high‑performance electrocatalysts.
The study was co-led by visiting students Siyan Shu, enrolled in the Master’s program, and Tao Song, a PhD candidate, who share first authorship. Prof. Lele Duan from Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels at Westlake University is the corresponding author.