Degradation of pollutants in water environment using single atom catalysts

Antibiotics, microorganisms, dyes, and heavy metals, among other pollutants, enter the water environment through various pathways and inevitably pose a threat to human health. Single atom catalysts (Single-atom catalysts, SACs) are widely used in the field of environmental catalysis due to their excellent catalytic performance. However, there have been no reports on the degradation of water pollutants by SACs so far. This article provides a detailed overview of the classification, synthesis methods, and degradation applications of SACs. SACs are driven by light, electricity, persulfate, and Fenton like reactions, with a focus on their application and mechanism in the degradation of antibiotics, microorganisms, organic matter, and heavy metals. By analyzing the structure-activity relationship of SACs and their efficiency and mechanism in pollutant degradation, operational guidelines and theoretical basis are provided for evaluating the potential application of single atom catalysts and their activation technologies in water environments.