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January 27, 2026Small2 citations

Integrated Single‐Atom and Cluster Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Energy Technologies: Current Achievements and Challenges

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ZLZheng LiuYWY. S. Susanna WanMTMingwu TAN

Key Points

  • The aim is to explore the development and enhancement of electrocatalysts for hydrogen energy applications.
  • Review of design strategies for integrated single-atom and cluster catalysts
  • Analysis of synthesis methods and performance in key reactions
  • Evaluation of enhancement mechanisms and stability challenges
  • Integrated catalysts show improved activity and stability for hydrogen reactions.
  • Synergistic interfaces reduce reliance on scarce platinum-group metals.
  • Significant advancements in the performance of hydrogen energy technologies are reported.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hydrogen energy is crucial for global carbon neutrality, relying on efficient green hydrogen electrolysis and fuel cells. However, sluggish kinetics in key electrocatalytic reactions, that is, oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and dependence on scarce platinum‐group metals hinder their viability. Single‐atom catalysts offer high atom utilization but lack multi‐site synergy for complex reactions like OER and certain HER pathways. Atomically precise clusters enable multi‐electron processes but suffer from electrochemical instability. Integrated single‐atom and cluster catalysts (ISACCs) overcome these limitations by creating synergistic interfaces. This synergy significantly enhances activity, selectivity, and stability for core hydrogen reactions (HER, OER, ORR, HOR), reducing dependence on platinum‐group metals. This review begins with introducing ISACC design strategies, synthesis methods, and performance breakthroughs in these four critical reactions. Then we analyze the atom‐cluster enhancement mechanisms and finally discuss challenges and future directions, aiming to guide the development of efficient, stable, and low‐cost electrocatalysts and promote their practical application in hydrogen energy technologies.

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Cite This Study

Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/697854bcccb046adae516e1ahttps://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202513717
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