The development of efficient Pd single-atom catalysts for CO oxidation, crucial for environmental protection and fundamental studies, has been hindered by their limited reactivity and thermal stability. Here, we report a thermally stable TiO2-supported Pd single-atom catalyst that exhibits enhanced intrinsic CO oxidation activity by tunning the local coordination of Pd atoms via H2 treatment. Our comprehensive characterization reveals that H2-treated Pd single atoms have reduced nearest Pd-O coordination and form short-distanced Pd-Ti coordination, effectively stabilizing Pd as isolated atoms even at high temperatures. During CO oxidation, partial replacement of the Pd-Ti coordination by O or CO occurs. This unique Pd local environment facilitates CO adsorption and promotes the activity of the surrounding oxygen species, leading to superior catalytic performance. Remarkably, the turnover frequency of the H2-treated Pd single-atom catalyst at 120 °C surpasses that of the O2-treated Pd single-atom catalyst and the most effective Pd/Pt single-atom catalysts by an order of magnitude. These findings open up new possibilities for the design of high-performance single-atom catalysts for crucial industrial and environmental applications.
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