The role of single-atom catalysts in CO2 electroreduction: insights into performance, design, and future perspectives

Abstract

This review highlights the growing importance of electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction in sustainable energy production, focusing on overcoming key industrial challenges, such as catalyst instability, poor selectivity, and low energy efficiency. The electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into value-added fuels presents an environmentally friendly approach to mitigate pollution and climate change while offering a pathway toward carbon neutrality. This review summarizes recent advancements in the application of single-atom catalysts (SACs) for the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) via electrolysis. Special attention is given to the various supports for single metal atoms, which are crucial for enhancing catalytic performance. Strategies such as optimizing the coordination environment, utilizing dual-atom sites, and incorporating heteroatom doping and defect engineering for improving the SAC performance are discussed. Finally, future strategies for advancing CO₂ electrolysis catalysts are proposed, aiming to address existing challenges and enhance their industrial applicability.