Single-Metal-Atom Electrocatalysts for Clean Energy Conversion

Abstract

Single-metal-atom electrocatalysts represent one of the most prominent families of catalytic materials toward the development of promising clean energy conversion technologies such as water electrolysis, fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and carbon dioxide conversion. In principle, single-metal-atom electrocatalysts ideally possesses unique electronic properties that contribute to excellent activity and favorable selectivity toward electrocatalytic processes. In Chapter 9 by Xun Cui et al., the overview of single-metal-atom electrocatalysts covering the unique features and mechanistic origins of electrocatalytic activity are indicated first. The advanced synthetic strategies and characterization techniques for the development of single-metal-atom electrocatalysts are then performed. Subsequently, the most recent advances of single-metal-atom electrocatalysts and their potential applications for reactions involved in clean energy conversion technologies, including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) are briefly outlined. Particular attentions are paid to the structure-property correlations and intrinsic origins of electrocatalytic activity. Finally, the future perspectives with regard to the challenges and opportunities awaiting this particular research field are offered and discussed.