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 stability, selectivity, and energy efficiency. The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into value-added fuels presents an environmentally friendly approach to mitigate pollution and climate change, while also offering a pathway toward carbon neutrality. This review summarizes recent advancements in single-atom catalysts (SACs) for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) via electrolysis. Special attention is given to the virous 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 are discussed for improving SAC performance. Finally, future strategies for advancing CO2 electrolysis catalysts are proposed, aiming to address existing challenges and enhance their industrial applicability.