Recent progress and prospects in single-atom catalyst-based electrochemical synthesis of ammonia

Abstract

Single-atom catalysts (SACs), with atomically distributed metal centers, high activity and maximized atom utilization efficiency, have attracted great attention in catalysis. Great efforts have been made on the development of new strategies for the synthesis of single-atom catalysts. In the design of SACs, substrates are materials that host the single atoms, providing a stable and accessible surface for catalytic reactions. The interaction between the single metal atoms and the substrate (carrier or support) is critical as it determines the stability and activity of the catalyst. Unraveling the substrate adsorption structure–performance relationship is pivotal for supported metal single-atom catalysts. On the other hand, the catalytic performance largely depends on the interaction among single atoms. In this review, we summarize in SACs-based electrochemical synthesis of ammonia. The reaction mechanism of these single-atom catalysts and their applications are discussed and assessed. Finally, the perspectives of SACs for future applications are previewed. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.