Research advances on the anchoring mechanism of metal single-atom catalysts

As a bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, single-atom catalysts have attracted much attention in the field of catalysis because of their 100% atomic efficiency, unique geometric and electronic properties. However, the critical importance of catalyst carrier selection and the mechanism of anchoring atoms are underscored, owing to the huge instability of a single metal center with high surface free energy and the significant impact of its interaction with surrounding ligands on the intrinsic activity of the catalytic center. In this paper, the anchoring mechanism and characterization of different carriers of single atom catalyst are reviewed. Moreover, the existing problems and future research emphases are pointed out.