Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the production of sustainable and renewable energy. However, the electrochemical performances of the various systems are limited, and there is an intensive search for highly efficient electrocatalysts by more rational control over the size, shape, composition, and structure. Of particular interest are the studies on single-atom catalysts (SACs), which have sparked new interests in electrocatalysis because of their high catalytic activity, stability, selectivity, and 100 % atom utilization. In this Review, we introduce innovative syntheses and characterization techniques for SACs, with a focus on their electrochemical applications in the oxygen reduction/evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, and hydrocarbon conversion reactions for fuel cells (electrooxidation of methanol, ethanol, and formic acid). The electrocatalytic performance is further considered at an atomic level and the underlying mechanisms are discussed. The ultimate goal is the tailoring of single atoms for electrochemical applications.

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Developing a low cost, highly active, durable cathode towards an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the high-priority research directions for commercialization of low-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the electrochemical performance of PEMFCs is still hindered by the high cost and insufficient durability of the traditional Pt-based cathode catalysts. Under these circumstances, the search for efficient alternatives to replace Pt for constructing highly efficient nonprecious metal catalysts (NPMCs) has been growing intensively and has received great interest. Combining with the compositional effects, the accurate design of NPMCs with 3D porous nanostructures plays a significant role in further enhancing ORR performance. These 3D porous architectures are able to provide higher specific surface areas and larger pore volumes, not only maximizing the availability of electron transfer within the nanosized electrocatalyst surface area but also providing better mass transport of reactants to the electrocatalyst. In this Tutorial Review, we focus on the rational design and synthesis of different 3D porous carbon-based nanomaterials, such as heteroatom-doped carbon, metal-nitrogen-carbon nanostructures and a series of carbon/nonprecious metal-based hybrids. More importantly, their enhanced ORR performances are also demonstrated by virtue of their favorably porous morphologies and compositional effects. Finally, the future trends and perspectives for the highly efficient porous NPMCs regarding the material design are discussed, with an emphasis on substantial development of advanced carbon-based NPMCs for ORR in the near future.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a kinetically sluggish anodic reaction that requires rationalized compositions and structures for achieving highly efficient and reliable noble metal-based electrocatalysts in acidic electrolyte.

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The great interest in fuel cells inspires a substantial amount of research on nonprecious metal catalysts as alternatives to Pt-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts. In this work, bimodal template-based synthesis strategies are proposed for the scalable preparation of hierarchically porous M-N-C (M = Fe or Co) single-atom electrocatalysts featured with active and robust MN 2 active moieties. Multiscale tuning of M-N-C catalysts regarding increasing the number of active sites and boosting the intrinsic activity of each active site is realized simultaneously at a singleatom scale. In addition to the antipoisoning power and high affinity for O 2 , the optimized Fe-N-C catalysts with FeN 2 active site presents a superior electrocatalytic activity for ORR with a half-wave potential of 0.927 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) in an alkaline medium, which is 49 and 55 mV higher than those of the Co-N-C counterpart and commercial Pt/C, respectively. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the FeN 2 site is more active than the CoN 2 site for ORR due to the lower energy barriers of the intermediates and products involved. The present work may help rational design of more robust ORR electrocatalysts at the atomic level, realizing the significant advances in electrochemical conversion and storage devices. Single-Atom ElectrocatalystsThe ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.

Nanomaterials with enzyme‐like activities, coined nanozymes, have been researched widely as they offer unparalleled advantages in terms of low cost, superior activity, and high stability. The complex structure and composition of nanozymes has led to extensive investigation of their catalytic sites at an atomic scale, and to an in‐depth understanding of the biocatalysis occurring. Single‐atom catalysts (SACs), characterized by atomically dispersed active sites, have provided opportunities for mimicking metalloprotease and for bridging the gap between natural enzymes and nanozymes. In this Minireview, we illustrate the unique properties of nanozymes and we discuss recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of SACs. Subsequently, we outline the impressive progress made in single‐atom nanozymes and we discuss their applications in sensing, degradation of organic pollutants, and in therapeutic roles. Finally, we present the major challenges and opportunities remaining for a successful marriage of nanozymes and SACs.

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