Single-Atom Alloys as a Reductionist Approach to the Rational Design of Heterogeneous Catalysts

occurs to Cu sites where selective hydrogenation is facilitated in a bifunctional manner. We then discuss selective dehydrogenations on SAAs demonstrating that they enable efficient C-H activation, while being resistant to coking that plagues typical Pt catalysts. SAA PtCu nanoparticle catalysts showed excellent stability in butane dehydrogenation for days-on-stream at 400 °C. Another advantage of SAA catalysts is that on many alloy combinations CO, a common catalyst poison, binds more weakly to the alloy than the pure metal. We conclude by discussing recent theory results that predict the energetics of many key reaction steps on a wide range of SAAs and the exciting possibilities this reductionist approach to heterogeneous catalysis offers for the rational design of new catalysts.