Progress and Outlook of Carbon-supported Single-atom Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered extensive attention in the field of catalysis due to their exceptional inherent reaction activity, optimal utilization of metal atoms, etc. Controlled synthesis plays a crucial role in elucidating the structure-activity relationship of SACs. This paper reviews various synthetic strategies for SACs, encompassing defect engineering, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) pyrolysis, and ion exchange. With specific examples, the significance of constructing catalysts at the atomic level is discussed, aiming to comprehensively understand the synthetic strategies of SACs. Finally, it addresses the challenges and prospects associated with controlled synthesis techniques for SACs as well as their future applications.