Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 78: 100-137.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64814-5

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Future development of single-atom catalysts in portable energy and sensor technologies

Tianyou Zhaoa, Fengming Hud, Meiqi Zhua, Chang-Jie Yangb, Xin-Yu Wangb, Yong-Zhou Pana,*(), Jiarui Yangc, Xia Zhanga,*(), Wen-Hao Lia,e,*(), Dingsheng Wangb,*()   

  1. aDepartment of Chemistry, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, Liaoning, China
    bDepartment of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    cDepartment of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, 999077 Hong Kong, China
    dJoint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Avenida da Uniyersidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
    eFoshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan 528311, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2025-06-09 Accepted:2025-07-25 Online:2025-11-18 Published:2025-10-14
  • Contact: *E-mail: panyz0412@163.com (Y.-Z. Pan), xzhang@mail.neu.edu.cn (X. Zhang), liwenhao@mail.neu.edu.cn (W.-H. Li), wangdingsheng@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn (D. Wang).
  • About author:Yong-Zhou Pan obtained his B.S. degree in 2019 from Gannan Normal University. His Ph.D. degree in 2024 from Guangxi Normal University. Then, he conducted postdoctoral research at Northeastern University. His research interests primarily focus on the applications of single-atom materials in energy storage and conversion.
    Xia Zhang received her B.S. degree in 1993 and M.S. degree in 1996 from Beijing Normal University, and her Ph.D. degree in 2004 from Northeastern University. Since 1996, she has been dedicated to the research of inorganic functional nanomaterials, inorganic-organic hybrid materials, and nanometallic materials, with an emphasis on their synthesis, performance optimization, and mechanistic investigation.
    Wen-Hao Li obtained his B.S. degree in 2017 from Sichuan Normal University and his M.S. degree in 2020 from Guangxi Normal University. He received his Ph.D. under the supervisor of Prof. Dingsheng Wang in the Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University. Then, he joined the faculty of College of Science, Northeastern University. His research interests are focused on the rational design, accurate synthesis, and application of single-atom and cluster catalysts.
    Dingsheng Wang received his B.S. degree from the Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Science and Technology of China in 2004, and his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University in 2009 under the supervision of Prof. Yadong Li. He did his postdoctoral research at the Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, with Prof. Shoushan Fan. Then, he joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University in 2012. His research interests focus on the synthesis and applications of nanomaterials, clusters, and single-atom catalysts.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22401038);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22325101);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22388102);National Natural Science Foundation of China(223B2902);National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFA1506801);Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Z240027);Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2025A1515010830);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(N2405014);China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2025M771039);Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program(China);Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program(XLYC2403076);Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Chinese Chemical Society.

Abstract:

With the rapid advancement of portable energy devices and sensor technologies, enhancing their catalytic performance, sensing capabilities, and application reliability has become a critical challenge in the fields of materials and energy science. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), owing to their high atomic utilization, outstanding catalytic activity, and precisely engineered structures enabled by density functional theory and enhanced by artificial intelligence, have shown tremendous potential in advancing portable energy and sensing technologies. While existing reviews predominantly focus on the application of SACs in individual portable devices, systematic discussions on their overall development prospects and challenges within portable energy and sensor fields remain scarce. Therefore, this review comprehensively explores the application potential and recent advancements of SACs in portable zinc-air batteries, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and sensor technologies. The article highlights the influence of key factors such as material design, structural optimization, and packaging integration on device performance, while also addressing the primary bottlenecks and challenges encountered in current practical applications. Furthermore, it suggests possible future development directions, aiming to offer theoretical insights and engineering guidance for the large-scale deployment of SACs in wearable electronic devices, portable energy systems, and smart sensing technologies.

Key words: Single-atom catalysts, Portable, Zinc-air batteries, Fuel cells, Sensors