Nitrate (NO3−) pollution in the ecological environment cause a substantial threat to ecosystem equilibrium and human health. The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) emerges as an efficacious method for addressing NO3− pollution. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit prominent activity, selectivity, and stability, attributed to their efficient atomic utilization, adaptable coordination environment, and precisely defined active sites. Notably, N-doped carbon-based Cu single-atom catalysts (Cu SACs) have evolved into prospective materials for advancing electrocatalytic NO3RR. However, a discernible scholarly gap exists, particularly the absence of a comprehensive review on carbon materials-based Cu SACs dedicated to electrocatalytic NO3RR. In this review article, we introduced the milestones of development of Cu SACs for electrocatalytic NO3RR. Key aspects including the development of Cu SACs, the electrocatalytic mechanism of NO3RR to NH3 and advanced characterizations are summarized. The discussion extends to the applications of Cu SACs for electrocatalytic NO3RR to ammonia (NH3) production. In conclusion, the review articulates the challenges and future perspectives intertwined with Cu SACs, aiming to contribute advanced insights to the intricate realm of designing SACs.

中文翻译：

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用于硝酸盐转化为氨的 N 掺杂碳基 Cu 基单原子电催化剂中 Cu 种类的合理调节


生态环境中的硝酸盐 （NO3−） 污染对生态系统平衡和人类健康构成重大威胁。电催化硝酸盐还原反应 （NO3RR） 是解决 NO3− 污染的有效方法。单原子催化剂 （SAC） 表现出突出的活性、选择性和稳定性，这归因于其高效的原子利用、适应性强的配位环境和精确定义的活性位点。值得注意的是，N 掺杂碳基 Cu 单原子催化剂 （Cu SAC） 已发展成为推进电催化 NO3RR 的前瞻性材料。然而，存在明显的学术空白，特别是缺乏对专用于电催化 NO3RR 的基于碳材料的 Cu SAC 的全面综述。在这篇综述文章中，我们介绍了用于电催化 NO3RR 的 Cu SACs 的发展里程碑。总结了 Cu SAC 的开发、NO3RR 对 NH3 的电催化机制以及高级表征等关键方面。讨论延伸到 Cu SAC 在电催化 NO3RR 中用于氨 （NH3） 生产的应用。总之，本综述阐明了与 Cu SAC 交织在一起的挑战和未来前景，旨在为设计 SAC 的复杂领域提供先进的见解。