High-Entropy-Cooperated Single-Atom Catalysis: An Emerging Paradigm Bridging Configurational Complexity and Atomic Precision for Catalytic Applications

Abstract

Single-atom catalysis has emerged as a frontier in heterogeneous catalysis due to its exceptional ability to enhance atomic efficiency and tailor catalytic properties at the atomic level. Recently, the integration of high-entropy effects into single-atom catalysts has opened new avenues for enhancing their catalytic performance. This review explores the high-entropy effect in single-atom catalysis, focusing on the catalyst synthesis strategies and the role of high-entropy effect in modulating the electronic structures of active sites, enhancing their catalytic activities, improving the thermal stability, and promoting synergistic catalysis. We discuss the design strategies of constructing high-entropy supports, introducing high-entropy single-atom sites, and integrating high-entropy nanoparticles with single atoms, as well as their applications in various catalytic processes, including electrocatalytic water splitting, metal-air batteries, electrocatalytic small molecule reactions and thermal catalysis. Finally, we provide a summary and prospects for the advancement of high-entropy-cooperated single-atom catalysts.