Combining Single-Atom Catalysts and Atomically Thin Materials for Advanced Water-Splitting

Unlocking Clean Hydrogen Potential Review Charts Advances in Catalysts for Water-Splitting Efficiency

2025-09-07 Source: Higher Education Press 1 min Reading Time

A new review highlights how combining single-atom catalysts with atomically thin materials could overcome key limitations in water-splitting technology. By focusing on metal–support interactions, researchers outline strategies for designing scalable, high-performance electrocatalysts to advance clean hydrogen production.

Schematic illustration of the synthetic strategies, characterization techniques, and mechanism insights of water electrolysis(Source: Central South University) — Schematic illustration of the synthetic strategies, characterization techniques, and mechanism insights of water electrolysis
(Source: Central South University)

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are emerging as highly efficient tools for electrocatalytic water splitting, offering strong reaction kinetics and maximum atomic utilization. Yet, their practical use has been limited, as traditional approaches struggle to achieve loadings above 2 wt% and often result in uneven distribution of active atoms.

A new review points to atomically thin materials (ATMs) as a promising solution. With their layered structures, high surface areas, and abundant surface defects, ATMs can host metal atoms more effectively, preventing aggregation and improving loading capacity. These properties also make them valuable supports for studying catalytic sites and reaction pathways.

Schematic diagram of the metal-support interaction mechanism of water electrolysis (Source: Central South University) — Schematic diagram of the metal-support interaction mechanism of water electrolysis
(Source: Central South University)

The review emphasizes that while most studies focus on the behavior of the metal atoms themselves, the supporting materials in SAC systems play a decisive role in performance. Researchers outline synthetic strategies for integrating SACs with ATMs, discuss advanced characterization methods to reveal the coordination environment of active sites, and evaluate their role in both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions.

Looking ahead, the authors argue that a deeper understanding of metal–support interactions will be crucial for designing next-generation electrocatalysts. Such insights could accelerate the development of scalable, high-performance systems for sustainable hydrogen production through water electrolysis.

Original Article: Single-atom catalysts supported on atomically thin materials for water splitting; Advanced Powder Materials

(ID:50540675)

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