Single-atom (SA) catalysis is a novel frontline in the catalysis field due to the often drastically enhanced specific activity and selectivity of many catalytic reactions. Here, an atomic-scale defect engineering approach to form and control traps for platinum SA sites as co-catalyst for photocatalytic H2 generation is described. Thin sputtered TiO2 layers are used as a model photocatalyst, and compared to the more frequently used (001) anatase sheets. To form stable SA platinum, the TiO2 layers are reduced in Ar/H2 under different conditions (leading to different but defined Ti3+ -Ov surface defects), followed by immersion in a dilute hexachloroplatinic acid solution. HAADF-STEM results show that only on the thin-film substrate can the density of SA sites be successfully controlled by the degree of reduction by annealing. An optimized SA-Pt decoration can enhance the normalized photocatalytic activity of a TiO2 sputtered sample by 150 times in comparison to a conventional platinum-nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 surface. HAADF-STEM, XPS, and EPR investigation jointly confirm the atomic nature of the decorated Pt on TiO2 . Importantly, the density of the relevant surface exposed defect centers-thus the density of Pt-SA sites, which play the key role in photocatalytic activity-can be precisely optimized.

Department of Materials Science University of Erlangen Nuremberg Institute for Surface Science and Corrosion WW4 LKO Martensstraße 7 D 91058 Erlangen Germany

Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Palacky University Olomouc Listopadu 50A 772 07 Olomouc Czech Republic

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