In situ and operando analytical techniques of single-atom catalysts for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction

Abstract

Electrocatalytic technology, which facilitates the transformation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high-value chemicals, stands as one of the most hopeful approaches for CO2 utilization. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are promising for catalyzing CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) owing to the tunable electronic structures of their central metal atoms, which enable precise control over the adsorption energies of reactants and intermediates. Additionally, SACs bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, offering an ideal platform to investigate the reaction mechanisms of CO2RR. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic structural evolution of SACs, along with the micro-environmental changes around active sites and electrode interfaces under operational conditions, is crucial for designing effective electrocatalysts and devices for CO2RR. This review introduces the fundamentals underlying the electrocatalytic CO2RR. Subsequently, the key techniques for SACs identification and validation are thoroughly analyzed, laying a theoretical basis for the case studies. Third, the latest development of in situ and operando analytical techniques of SACs toward CO2RR are summarized, including infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, several issues are raised and possible solutions are offered regarding the in situ and operando analytical techniques of SACs for the CO2RR.