Neighboring effect in single-atom catalysts for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction

Although single-atom catalysts(SACs)have attracted enormous attention for their applications in the electrochemical reduction of CO_(2)(CO_(2)RR)due to their extraordinary catalytic activity and well-defined active centers,neighboring effects and their influence on the electrochemical performance of SACs have not been well investigated.In this review,we present a summary of the neighboring effects on SACs for the CO_(2)RR process,where the surrounding atoms not only induce electronic modulation of the metal atom but also participate in the CO_(2)RR.Both theoretical and experimental studies have pointed out that the neighboring sites of the anchored metal center can provide second active/adsorption locations during the catalytic process,enhancing CO_(2)RR performance tremendously.This review supplies advanced insights into the significant roles and impacts of neighboring effects on the catalytic process,which also benefit the development of advanced SACs to achieve efficient electrocatalysis.