Substantial progress has been achieved in improving

The gap

Evidence profile

Stated in the future work and abstract and cells research gap sections of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2023 and 2026, spanning 6 journals. Those papers have been cited 134 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• Structural engineering of atomic catalysts for electrocatalysis (2024) · Chemical Science · cited 132× · doi

  In the past decade, SACs have made great progress in the eld of electrocatalysis due to their unique geometry and electronic structures, which are expected to replace commercial precious metal-based catalysts. DACs with the interaction between metal dimers are also emerging and show excellent electrocatalytic activity, which can solve the limitation caused by SACs to a certain extent. To better suit multi-electron complex reactions, TACs have been developed, which provide more possibilities for the adsorption of intermediates, and are conducive to better study the relationship between the structure and electrocatalytic activity. In this review, we summarize the progress of SACs, DACs and TACs in electrocatalysis systematically. By using defect engineering and an atomic limiting strategy to design precursors, the number of central metal atoms and the coordination environment can be regulated for specic electrocatalytic reactions. Up to now, SACs and DACs designed by electronic regulation have made good progress in electrocatalysis. As a rising star, TACs are in the initial stage of development. In general, electrocatalysts with different nuclear numbers and uniform active sites have broad application prospects, but some problems still need to be solved. (i) Controlled synthesis is still one of the biggest obstacles for atomic catalysts. At present, most of the atomic catalysts are synthesized by pyrolysis at high temperatures. The randomness of the coordination environment of the obtained catalysts is relatively large, and metal migration and agglomeration will inevitably occur. In addition, for DACs and TACs, active sites may possess multiple structures. By encapsulating precursors 5106 | Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 5082–5112 © 2024 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry Open Access Article. Published on 05 March 2024. Downloaded on 6/14/2026 7:24:58 AM.

  generalstated in future workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: sacs metal catalysts dacs tacs progress atomic article made electrocatalysis electronic structures activity better reactions
• Applications of Nanoscale Electrochemical Characterization Techniques in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (2026) · Small Methods · doi

  Although substantial progress has been achieved in improving the activity and stability of OER electrocatalysts, the interfacial origins of catalytic performance remain insufficiently understood.

  generalstated in abstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: substantial progress achieved improving activity stability electrocatalysts interfacial origins catalytic performance remain insufficiently understood
• Engineering non-noble bifunctional catalysts for alkaline hydrogen and oxygen evolution (2026) · Discover Chemistry. · cited 1× · doi

  The replacement of noble-metal catalysts with non-noble alternatives is a challenge. - The development of efficient, stable, and economically viable electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis is a gap. - The improvement of bifunctional activity in catalysts is a research need.

  generalstated in cells research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: replacement noble-metal catalysts non-noble alternatives challenge development efficient
• Synthesis of High-Entropy Alloy Nanomaterials for Electrocatalytic Multi-Electron Transfer Reactions (2026) · ACS Nano · cited 1× · doi

  Electrocatalytic multielectron transfer reactions are essential for clean energy conversion and the synthesis of value-added chemicals, yet their practical development is limited by the low selectivity, insufficient stability, and high cost of conventional catalysts.

  generalstated in abstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: electrocatalytic multielectron transfer reactions essential clean energy conversion synthesis value added chemicals practical development limited
• Synergistic Mechanism of Sub‐Nanometric Ru Clusters Anchored on Tungsten Oxide Nanowires for High‐Efficient Bifunctional Hydrogen Electrocatalysis (2023) · Advanced Science · doi

  Abstract The construction of strong interactions and synergistic effects between small metal clusters and supports offers a great opportunity to achieve high‐performance and cost‐effective heterogeneous catalysis, however, studies on its applications in electrocatalysis are still insufficient.

  generalstated in abstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: abstract construction strong interactions synergistic effects small metal clusters supports offers great opportunity achieve high
• Unlocking the Synergistic Promoter Role of Phosphorus in Evolving NiFe Phosphides for Enhanced Water Oxidation (2026) · Nano-Micro Letters · doi

  While structural evolution of electrocatalysts under working conditions has garnered considerable attention, as the evolved structure often dictates catalytic activity, the mechanisms driving these transformations and catalytic performance remain poorly understood.

  generalstated in abstractevidence 2/5
  Keywords: catalytic structural evolution electrocatalysts working conditions garnered considerable attention evolved structure often dictates activity mechanisms

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