In a joint project, KAIST and KIMS scientists have developed a catalyst technology that dramatically improves carbon dioxide (CO2 )conversion rates. The study was published in the esteemed journal of catalysis and energy, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental and Energy.
Schematic illustration of the enhanced CO2 conversion reaction achieved through the synergistic effects of dual-single-atom catalysts. Image Credit: Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS)
Technologies to transform carbon dioxide (CO₂) into resources like chemical fuels and compounds are desperately needed as the severity of climate change and carbon emissions become a global concern. Professor Jeong-Young Park's team from the Department of Chemistry at KAIST has partnered with Dr. Dahee Park's research team from the Nano Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) to create a catalyst technology that greatly increases the efficiency of carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion.
Commercialization of conventional carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion technologies has been difficult because of their low efficiency compared to their high energy consumption. Complex synthesis procedures and challenges in sustaining a stable bond with metal oxide supports—which are essential for stabilizing catalyst particles and improving durability—are specific problems for single-atom catalysts (SACs). Consequently, these catalysts have had limited performance.
The research team created single- and dual-single-atom catalyst (DSAC) technologies and implemented a streamlined procedure to improve catalyst efficiency to get around these restrictions. Compared to current technologies, this accomplishment uses electronic interactions between metals in dual-single-atom catalysts (DSACs) to achieve superior selectivity- the capacity of a catalyst to guide the production of desired products - and higher conversion rates.
This technology greatly improves the efficiency and selectivity of carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion reactions by carefully controlling oxygen vacancies and defect structures within metal oxide supports through a catalyst design approach. While single and dual-single-atom catalysts aid in hydrogen (H2) adsorption, oxygen vacancies help the catalyst surface adsorb CO2.
Oxygen vacancies, single atoms, and dual-single atoms efficiently convert CO2 with H2 into the desired compounds. Dual-single-atom catalysts (DSACs) are noteworthy because they actively control the reaction pathway and optimize efficiency using electronic interactions between two metal atoms.
The study team demonstrated the aerosol-assisted spray pyrolysis method's potential for mass production by using it to create catalysts in a simplified manner. Without the need for intricate intermediate steps, this process turns liquid materials into aerosols, which are tiny, mist-like particles, and then introduces them into a heated chamber to form the catalyst.
This technique makes it possible to precisely control defect structures and distribute metal atoms uniformly within the metal oxide support. The team successfully created single- and dual-single-atom catalysts (DSACs) by carefully managing these defect structures. By using DSACs, they achieved over twice the CO2 conversion efficiency compared to traditional methods, an exceptionally high selectivity of over 99%, and a reduction of about 50% in the use of single-atom catalysts.
This technology can be used in several industries, such as the clean energy sector, hydrogen production, and chemical fuel synthesis. The catalyst synthesis method (aerosol-assisted spray pyrolysis) is very promising for commercialization due to its ease of use and high production efficiency.
This technology represents a significant achievement in drastically improving the performance of CO2 conversion catalysts while enabling commercialization through a simplified process. It is expected to serve as a core technology for achieving carbon neutrality.
Dr. Dahee Park, Study Lead Researcher, Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Jeong-Young Park, Professor at KAIST added, “This research provides a relatively simple method for synthesizing a new type of single-atom catalyst that can be used in various chemical reactions. It also offers a crucial foundation for the development of CO2 decomposition and utilization catalysts, which is one of the most urgent research areas for addressing global warming caused by greenhouse gases.”
The National Research Council of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, and the core projects of the Korea Institute of Materials Science funded the study.
Journal Reference:
Park, D., et al. (2025) Insights into the synergy effect in dual single-atom catalysts on defective CeO2 under CO2 hydrogenation. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy. doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124987