ABSTRACT Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have opened new avenues for environmental remediation via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), owing to their maximum atom utilization efficiency, well‐defined active sites, and tunable electronic structures. Despite remarkable progress in AOPs over the past decade, a comprehensive summary of SACs for photo‐related AOPs remains lacking. In this review, we present the latest advances in the design, characterization, and application of SACs for light‐driven oxidation processes toward pollutant degradation. We first summarize state‐of‐the‐art techniques for the precise characterization and structural identification of SACs. Subsequently, we highlight their representative applications in various photo‐related AOPs, including photocatalysis, photo‐Fenton oxidation, photo‐peroxymonosulfate/persulfate activation, photo‐electrochemical oxidation, and photo‐ozonation. The pivotal roles of atomically dispersed metal sites in enhancing charge transfer, activating oxidants, and regulating reaction pathways are elucidated through selected case studies. Finally, we discuss key challenges and future opportunities for developing highly active and durable SAC‐based photocatalysts, offering perspectives on their rational design and scalable applications in solar‐driven environmental remediation.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.