Local Symmetry-Broken Single Pd Atoms Induced by Doping Ag Sites for Selective Electrocatalytic Semihydrogenation of Alkynes

Engineering the local coordination environment of single metal atoms is an effective strategy to improve their catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. In this study, we develop an asymmetric Pd–Ag diatomic site on the surface of g-C3N4 for the selective electrocatalytic semihydrogenation of alkynes. The single Pd atom catalyst, which has a locally symmetric Pd coordination, was inactive for the semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene in a 1 M KOH and 1,4-dioxane solution at an applied potential of −1.3 V (vs RHE). In sharp contrast, doping Ag sites into single Pd atom catalyst to form paired Pd–Ag diatomic sites with asymmetric Pd coordination substantially enhanced the reaction, resulting in a high conversion (>98%) with exceptional time-independent selectivity to styrene under identical conditions. Characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that the introduction of a Ag site into single Pd atoms disrupts their symmetry coordination by forming Pd–Ag bonds with N2–Pd–Ag–N configuration, thereby modulating the electronic and geometric structures of Pd sites, which in turn benefits the adsorption and activation of substrate and lowers energy barrier for the rate-determining step of semihydrogenation, ultimately enhancing the electrocatalytic reaction. This work provides a facile and powerful strategy for the design of advanced catalysts by tuning the local coordination environment for selective catalysis.