Microenvironment engineering of single-atom catalysts for persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes

Persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS AOPs) can efficiently eliminate the aqueous refractory organics, presenting one of the most powerful technologies for environmental remediation. Targeted regulation of PS activation is of great significance, but it remains a huge challenge due to insufficient catalytic sites and ambiguous structure-activity relationships. Benefiting from the maximum atom utilization and tunable electronic structures, single-atom catalysts (SACs) hold great potential in regulating PS activation in a desirable pathway via microenvironment engineering. This review is the first attempt that summarizes the progress in microenvironment engineering of SACs for PS AOPs. The popular strategies for regulating and characterizing the microenvironment are illustrated. Thereafter, the relationship between the microenvironment of SACs including the characteristics of metals centers, the near-range coordination environments, the long-range electronic interaction and the effect of substrates, and their PS activation performance is scrutinized. Ultimately, the rational perspective on future opportunities and ongoing challenges is critically discussed.

Automated summary

This review summarizes the progress in microenvironment engineering of single-atom catalysts (SACs) for Persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS AOPs). The strategies for regulating and characterizing the microenvironment are illustrated, and the relationship between the microenvironment of SACs and their PS activation performance is scrutinized. Future opportunities and ongoing challenges are critically discussed.