Metal Single‐Atoms Toward Electromagnetic Wave‐Absorbing Materials: Insights and Perspective

Metal single‐atoms implanted on nitrogen‐doped carbon matrices (M‐NxCs) can effectively adjust local surface electrons and polarization relaxation through coordination structures to significantly enhance the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties of the materials. However, the precise construction of the geometric and electronic structures of metal single atoms and the discovery of the structure‐absorption relationship at the atomic level confront a huge challenge. Herein, this work summarizes the latest progress in metal single‐atom engineering of EMW absorbing materials via a comprehensive analysis of M‐NxCs in terms of design principles, modulation strategies, and structure‐performance correlations. Subsequently, it highlights the recent progress of several typical M‐NxCs as the EMW absorbing materials, aiming to achieve a complete understanding of the physical effects and atomic‐level absorption mechanisms. Finally, current key challenge and future directions of M‐NxCs are presented by focusing on the electromagnetic functional materials. This work provides new insights for the development of atomically dispersed absorbing materials for efficient electromagnetic response functionalities. This work systematically reviews the research progress of metal single‐atom materials in the field of EMW absorbing materials in recent years. It analyses the key challenges faced by metal single‐atom materials in EMW absorbing materials. Putting forward the problems and development direction of metal single‐atom material, lighting up the development of electromagnetic functional materials and devices in the future.