Core Insights - A research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed a direct-contact photothermal annealing platform that can achieve temperatures up to 3000℃ in just 0.02 seconds, significantly enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production and reducing energy consumption by five times compared to traditional methods [1][2] Group 1: Technology and Innovation - The new photothermal process utilizes a strong photothermal effect to convert inert nanodiamond precursors into highly conductive and catalytically active "carbon nano-onions" [1] - "Carbon nano-onions" consist of multiple concentric graphite shells, offering high conductivity, large surface area, and excellent chemical stability, making them ideal catalyst supports [1] - The technology allows for the simultaneous synthesis of "carbon nano-onions" and the functionalization of single-atom catalysts, preventing atom aggregation during the rapid cooling process [1] Group 2: Applications and Performance - The research team has successfully prepared eight types of high-density single-atom catalysts, including platinum, cobalt, and nickel [2] - The hydrogen evolution efficiency of the platinum-carbon nano-onion catalyst is six times greater than that of traditional catalysts, while significantly reducing the amount of precious metals used [2] - This technology demonstrates substantial potential for large-scale and sustainable hydrogen production applications [2]