Metal−support interaction in single-atom electrocatalysts: A perspective of metal oxide supports

Abstract

The discovery of single-atom catalysts (SACs) represents a groundbreaking advancement in the field of catalysis over the past decades. With the in-depth exploration of relevant structure-activity relationships, the metal−support interaction (MSI) is widely adopted to elucidate variations in electronic structure and coordination configuration of atomic active sites on various kinds of supports. Herein, we briefly summarize the metal oxide supports for SACs fabrication, including the distinctive characteristics of metal oxide supports, enlightening advancements in metal oxide support-based SACs (MO-SACs), feasible preparation methods for MO-SACs and effective regulation strategies of MSI effect in MO-SACs. In addition, we present our viewpoints and outlook in this field to stimulate rational design and construction of novel MO-SACs applied in diverse renewable energy devices, while some universal suggestions are sincerely given to provoke thoughtful considerations during the research process.