However, the design of catalytic sites remains unclear, which limits further advancements.

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• From CO₂ to Methanol on Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ Industrial Catalyst. What Do We Know about the Active Phase and the Reaction Mechanism? (2024) · doi

  Despite the technological importance and the high number of studies dedicated to identifying the structure of the functioning catalyst, there are still several open questions on the nature of the active sites and phases.

  Keywords: despite technological importance high number dedicated identifying structure functioning catalyst there still several open questions
• Inter-site structural heterogeneity induction of single atom Fe catalysts for robust oxygen reduction (2024) · doi

  However, catalytic performance determined by individual and interacting sites originating from structural heterogeneity is particularly elusive and yet remains to be understood.

  Keywords: catalytic performance determined individual interacting sites originating structural heterogeneity particularly elusive remains understood
• Activating the Mn Single Atomic Center for an Efficient Actual Active Site of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction by Spin-State Regulation (2024) · doi

  However, the fundamental reasons underlying the reaction mechanism and the contemplation for which the actual active site for the catalytic reaction depends on the pyrrolic and pyridinic N ligand structure remain to be fully understood.

  Keywords: reaction fundamental reasons underlying mechanism contemplation actual active site catalytic depends pyrrolic pyridinic ligand structure
• Dynamic restructuring of nickel sulfides for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (2024) · doi

  However, the identification of active sites and the underlying catalytic mechanism remain elusive.

  Keywords: identification active sites underlying catalytic mechanism remain elusive
• Modulation of the Second-Beyond Coordination Structure in Single-Atom Electrocatalysts for Confirmed Promotion of Ammonia Synthesis (2024) · doi

  Although microenvironments surrounding single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been widely demonstrated to have a remarkable effect on their catalytic performances, it remains unclear whether the local structure beyond the secondary coordination shells works as well or not.

  Keywords: microenvironments surrounding single atom catalysts sacs widely remarkable effect catalytic performances remains unclear whether local
• Organizational and Mechanistic Modulation of ORR/OER Activity in M₁M₂–N–C Bimetallic Catalysts (2024) · doi

  However, the design of catalytic sites remains unclear, which limits further advancements.

  Keywords: design catalytic sites remains unclear limits further advancements