Atomic-Precision Engineering of Single-Atom Alloy Materials for Green Catalysis and Energy Conversion

Single-atom alloys (SAAs) are important in the area of single-site catalysis and characteristically consist of highly active components atomically distributed in quite inert and prominently selective host metals. Owing to their adjustable components, distinctive electronic configurations, superior functionalities, and unique structure and the synergistic effect of alloys and single-atom catalysts, SAAs are highly preferred model systems in green catalysis and conversion. This Review summarizes recent achievements in the microenvironment engineering of superior SAAs, with a comprehensive analysis of design principles, synthetic strategies, and characterization techniques to provide a theoretical understanding of the relationships between their structures and properties. Furthermore, the latest progress in representative catalytic systems is emphasized to offer an in-depth understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying well-designed SAAs. Finally, comprehensive summaries and an outlook are presented toward the prospective advancements and future challenges of SAAs.