Coordination Microenvironment Regulation in Carbon−Based Atomically Dispersed Metal Catalysts for Clean Energy−Conversion

Emerging atomically dispersed metal catalysts (ADCs), especially carbon−based ADCs have arguably received enormous attention in diverse electrochemical energy conversion processes. Such catalysts have well−defined active centers, and their geometric and electronic structures depend greatly on their coordination microenvironments, which, in turn, govern the performances in the realm of electrocatalysis. In this review, it is focused on the state−of−the−art synthesis strategies for carbon−based ADCs, with particular emphasis on their microenvironment modulations. The advances in characterizing the microenvironment alongside understanding the synthetic pathway are outlined, and exemplified in electrochemical applications, including electrocatalytic H2 evolution, O2 evolution/reduction, CO2 reduction, and Li polysulfides conversion reactions. Rather than focusing on the catalysis metrics, this review delved deeply into the underly science and the associated reaction mechanisms of these catalysts in diverse electrochemical systems. The fundamental impacts of the microenvironments of the catalysts on electrocatalytic activities, selectivities, and stabilities are discussed. In the end, it is concluded by highlighting the current issues of the microenvironment engineering of these carbon−based ADCs and propose the prospects for future opportunities and challenges. A review of the coordination microenvironments modulations of carbon−based atomically dispersed metal catalysts, alongside the designing the synthetic pathway, characterizing the microenvironment, understanding underly science and the associated reaction mechanisms in diverse electrochemical systems, including electrocatalytic H2 evolution, O2 evolution/reduction, CO2 reduction, and Li polysulfides conversion reactions have been highlighted and summarized.