Recent advances in single atom catalysis have sparked interest in their use as low-cost and high-efficiency catalysts in a wide variety of reactions. One such reaction that has been heavily studied with single atom catalysts is the water gas shift reaction. In addition, water participates in a rich variety of other industrially important catalytic processes, such as steam reforming reactions. However, much debate surrounds the structure and activity of single atoms toward water gas shift chemistry. By taking a model study approach, we determine the influence of atomically dispersed Pt atoms on the activation of water. Using a thin film Cu₂O/Cu(1 1 1) support, water activation is probed via isotopic scrambling temperature programed desorption experiments. We determine that the presence of supported single Pt atoms on the thin Cu₂O film will facilitate the low-temperature activation of water. Theory offers a viable water scrambling pathway on the supported Pt atoms, detailing the dynamic relationship between water, the Pt atom, and the support. The results reveal that single Pt atoms are capable of O-H bond activation when water interacts with such a catalyst.

单原子催化的最新进展引起了人们对其在各种反应中用作低成本和高效催化剂的兴趣。已经用单原子催化剂大量研究的一种这样的反应是水煤气变换反应。此外，水还参与了许多其他工业上重要的催化过程，例如蒸汽重整反应。然而，围绕水煤气变换化学的单原子的结构和活性围绕着许多争论。通过采用模型研究方法，我们确定了原子分散的Pt原子对水活化的影响。使用薄膜Cu ₂O / Cu（1 1 1）支持，通过同位素加扰温度编程的脱附实验探测水的活化。我们确定在薄的Cu ₂ O膜上存在支持的单个Pt原子将促进水的低温活化。理论为负载的Pt原子提供了一条可行的加水途径，详细说明了水，Pt原子与载体之间的动态关系。结果表明，当水与此类催化剂相互作用时，单个Pt原子能够进行OH键活化。