Emerging single-atom catalysts in the detection and purification of contaminated gases

Single atom catalysts (SACs) show exceptional molecular adsorption and electron transfer capabilities owing to their remarkable atomic efficiency and tunable electronic structure, thereby providing promising solutions for diverse important processes including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, thermal catalysis, etc. Consequently, SACs hold great potential in the detection and degradation of pollutants present in contaminated gases. Over the past few years, SACs have made remarkable achievements in the field of contaminated gas detection and purification. In this review, we first provide a concise introduction to the significance and urgency of gas detection and pollutant purification, followed by a comprehensive overview of the structural feature identification methods for SACs. Subsequently, we systematically summarize the three key properties of SACs for detecting contaminated gases and discuss the research progress made in utilizing SACs to purify polluted gases. Finally, we analyze the enhancement mechanism and advantages of SACs in polluted gas detection and purification, and propose strategies to address challenges and expedite the development of SACs in polluted gas detection and purification. © 2024 The Royal Society of Chemistry.