Single-Atom Catalysts for Ethanol Conversion

Ethanol is the most abundant renewable platform chemical, which is primarily used as a fuel additive to boost the research octane number of gasoline and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, it serves as a versatile platform energy molecule for upgrading into value-added chemicals, advanced fuels and renewable materials, partially replacing those derived from fossil resources. Among current catalytic systems, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been extensively applied for ethanol conversion, offering high atomic efficiency, distinct product selectivity, and well-defined catalyst structures for mechanistic studies. In this review, the synthesis of SACs was briefly introduced from the perspectives of supported and alloyed SACs. Subsequently, the application of SACs in ethanol conversion, including ethanol dehydrogenation, coupling, reforming, and oxidation, was summarized and discussed, highlighting their distinctive properties in regulating reaction selectivity and elucidating catalytic mechanisms. Finally, a proposed tendency in ethanol conversion over SACs was outlined, focusing on the rational design of catalytic materials, the precise steering of reaction pathways, and the in-depth exploration of structure-activity relationships for ethanol upgrading.