Shaping the future of energy storage with single-atom materials

Single-atom materials (SAMs) represent a rapidly emerging category of nanomaterials with exceptional catalytic behavior, positioning them as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage and conversion systems. This review highlights their intrinsic benefits, limitations, and mechanistic aspects, offering guidance for rational structural design. By enabling atomic-level control of catalytic centers, SAMs facilitate effective charge and energy transport, thereby improving device efficiency. In practical applications, including metal-ion batteries (MIBs), supercapacitors (SCs), Li-S and Na-S batteries, metal anodes, and metal-air batteries (MABs), SAMs mitigate persistent problems such as volume fluctuations, dendrite growth, and capacity decay. Furthermore, their distinctive structural and electronic characteristics render them highly effective electrocatalysts, with notable activity and selectivity in processes like lithium polysulfide (LiPSs) regulation, oxygen reduction, and CO₂ conversion. The article also discusses current challenges and future directions, underscoring the transformative role SAMs may play in advancing sustainable energy technologies. Unlike previous reviews, this work provides a comparative framework that bridges atomic-level design principles with electrochemical performance across diverse energy storage systems. By systematically integrating mechanistic insights, quantitative performance benchmarks, and practical engineering considerations, this review outlines a roadmap for translating laboratory-scale SAM innovations into scalable, application-oriented energy storage solutions.