Advances in alcohols electrooxidation catalyzed by atomically dispersed and isolated active sites

Alcohol electrooxidation reactions (AORs)—including methanol (MOR), ethanol (EOR), ethylene glycol (EGOR), and benzyl alcohol oxidation (BAOR)—are central to clean energy conversion and selective synthesis of value-added chemicals. Beyond their direct roles in fuel cells, AORs intersect with urgent global priorities such as CO₂ valorization, biomass upgrading, and the green hydrogen economy. Yet their practical deployment is hampered by sluggish kinetics, severe CO poisoning, and poor product selectivity, compounded by inefficient utilization of precious metals. Atomically dispersed and isolated active site catalysts—including single atom catalysts (SACs), dual atom catalysts (DACs), single atom alloys catalysts (SAAs), and nano-single atom ensembles catalysts (NSAs)—have emerged as a transformative paradigm to overcome these bottlenecks. Their unparalleled atomic efficiency, well-defined coordination environments, and tunable electronic structures enable precise regulation of oxophilicity, dynamic control of reaction intermediates, and near-complete suppression of poisoning pathways. This review highlights recent advances in the rational design and synthesis of isolated active site catalysts for AORs, with a focus on their structure–performance relationships, mechanistic insights into alcohol electrooxidation, and emerging principles of selectivity control across mono- and polyhydric alcohols. We further discuss critical challenges—such as catalyst stability, large-scale production, and real-world operando validation—and outline future opportunities in green synthetic strategies, multi-field coupling, and data-driven discovery. By bridging atomic precision with electrochemical function, isolated active sites open a frontier for reimagining alcohol electrooxidation as a cornerstone of sustainable energy and chemical innovation.