Engineering and dynamics of heterogeneous catalysts via metal single atoms as promoters/precursors

Metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as a focal point of research, captivating the scientific community due to their distinctive electronic properties and unparalleled catalytic prowess in the realm of heterogeneous catalysis. However, their significance transcends their role as mere active sites. Recent investigations have illuminated the multifaceted capabilities of metal single atoms as catalyst promoters and precursors, paving the way for the engineering of highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts. Single-atom promoters not only enhance the stabilization of active metals and tailor the support material, but regulate the reactive interfacial structure, eventually tuning the catalytic performance. Furthermore, SACs were also used as catalyst precursors to design new catalyst active sites. During the pretreatment or catalytic reaction, the structure of the metal single sites is changed significantly and transformed into the new and more active state, which improve the adsorption and reactive ability of reactants or intermediates. In this critical review, we comment the recent development of metal SACs used as catalyst promoters/precursors in engineering heterogeneous catalysts, including thermal catalysis and electrocatalysis. Furthermore, the dynamic evolution of the SACs during the pretreatment or catalytic reaction is also discussed. Finally, we provide our insight to potentially guide the future development on this emerging field.