Current-assisted dual-atom catalyst sequentially boosts low-temperature propane combustion through atomic relay.

Single-atom catalysts maximize atomic utilization but the limited diversity of their functional sites presents challenges in multistep combustion processes, particularly for low-carbon alkanes with high C-H bond energies. Here we synthesized a dual-atom Pt-Nb catalyst using antimony tin oxide for low-temperature propane activation and combustion using a current-assisted strategy. This catalytic system achieves complete propane conversion at low temperatures (T90 < 200 °C), with a high turnover frequency at 220 °C of 27.67 × 10-3 s-1. Moreover, the catalyst exhibits outstanding water resistance and significantly reduces the use of precious metal by over 80% under current assistance. Further systematic in situ experiments and theoretical simulations indicate that the proximity of current-assisted niobium atoms to platinum atoms facilitates the dissociation of C-H bonds in propane and the desorption of carbon dioxide, while the electric current weakens the Pt-O bonds near the niobium side, promoting the activation and release of lattice oxygen. This stepwise-boosting, current-assisted atomic relay mechanism offers a promising strategy for developing next-generation green catalysts.