Prospects of single atom catalysts for dendrite-free alkali metal batteries

High-energy-density alkali metal batteries (AMBs) offer a potentially promising and sustainable option for energy storage. However, notorious dendrite growth and uncontrollable plating behaviors resulting from random spatial ion/atom distribution and related high barriers restrict the development of AMBs. Different from interphase engineering and architecture construction, the emerging catalysis modulation is proposed to overcome above-related barriers, achieving uniform alkali metal nucleation and atom diffusion. Among the various catalysts, single atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit an atomic exposure of nearly 100%, displaying high atomic catalytic capability and efficiency. Although it is still at an early stage, the adoption of SACs for modulating alkali metal ion/atom desolvation or diffusion has shown great promise in both fundamental research and practical applications. In this review, the fabrications and characterizations of SACs are briefly summarized, and the principal mechanisms of SAC-incorporated alkali metal anode systems are highlighted in terms of electrochemical analysis, microscopic/spectroscopic characterizations, and theoretical simulations. ... mehrIn addition, sustainable paths for future critical battery chemistry and material selections based on SACs are highlighted. The associated opportunities and challenges are further prospected to achieve a high-performance alkali metal anode.