Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are revolutionizing cathode materials by providing atomic-level active sites for redox reactions. Recent breakthroughs have shown that SACs based on Pt or Co atoms anchored on nitrogen-doped graphene achieve oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) overpotentials as low as 0.25 V, rivaling platinum benchmarks. These catalysts enhance the rate capability of lithium-air batteries, achieving current densities of up to 10 mA/cm^2 without degradation.
The atomic dispersion of SACs maximizes active site utilization, often exceeding 90%, compared to nanoparticle catalysts (<50%). For instance, Fe-SACs in Li-S batteries reduce polysulfide shuttling by forming strong Fe-S bonds, increasing sulfur utilization to >85%. This results in specific capacities of up to 1200 mAh/g at 0.2C rates, significantly higher than conventional cathodes (<800 mAh/g).
SACs also improve thermal stability in high-voltage cathodes like LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA). By decorating NCA surfaces with Ni-SACs, researchers have reduced capacity fade from ~20% to <5% after 300 cycles at elevated temperatures (60°C). This is attributed to the suppression of oxygen evolution reactions at voltages above 4.3 V vs Li/Li+.
Scalability remains a hurdle due to complex synthesis methods like atomic layer deposition (ALD). However, recent advances in wet chemistry techniques have reduced production costs by ~40%, making SACs commercially viable for large-scale battery applications.
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