When a metal single-atom (SA) catalyst is supported on a semiconducting photocatalyst, the charge transfer of the photoexcited carriers to metal SAs can provide a synergetic activity for the co-catalysts. Here, we report the interfacial electronic coupling of the Au SAs on the TiO2(110) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, in combination with first-principles calculations. Distinct energy and spatial distributions of the metal-induced gap states (MIGSs) are experimentally revealed for the Au SAs adsorbed at the terminal Ti sites and the oxygen vacancies. The localized MIGS below the Fermi level provides a dedicated channel for the transfer of a photoexcited hole from the TiO2 substrate to the adsorbed Au SAs. The hole can weaken the Ti-Au bonding and activate the diffusion of Au SAs. Our results shed light on combining the advantages of photocatalysis and metal SA catalysis using a co-catalyst, which is promising to promote chemical reactions at low temperatures.
Keyphrases
- visible light
- reduced graphene oxide
- sensitive detection
- high resolution
- high glucose
- single molecule
- diabetic rats
- molecular dynamics
- oxidative stress
- molecular dynamics simulations
- ionic liquid
- room temperature
- single cell
- high throughput
- density functional theory
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- monte carlo
- high speed
- solid state