Oxygen reduction electrocatalysis: From conventional to single-atomic platinum-based catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Platinum (Pt)-based materials are still the most efficient and practical catalysts to drive the sluggish kinetics of cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, their catalysis and stability performance still need to be further improved in terms of corrosion of both carbon support and Pt catalyst particles as well as Pt loading reduction. Based on the developed synthetic strategies of alloying/nanostructuring Pt particles and modifying/innovating supports in developing conventional Pt-based catalysts, Pt single-atom catalysts (Pt SACs) as the recently burgeoning hot materials with a potential to achieve the maximum utilization of Pt are comprehensively reviewed in this paper. The design thoughts and synthesis of various isolated, alloyed, and nanoparticle-contained Pt SACs are summarized. The single-atomic Pt coordinating with non-metals and alloying with metals as well as the metal-support interactions of Pt single-atoms with carbon/non-carbon supports are emphasized in terms of the ORR activity and stability of the catalysts. To advance further research and development of Pt SACs for viable implementation in PEMFCs, various technical challenges and several potential research directions are outlined.