Single Metal Site Oxygen-Reduction Catalysts: From Atomic Active Site Structures to Fuel Cell Cathode Performance

Recently, scientists have identified the newly emerging atomically dispersed transition metal (M: Fe, Co, or/and Mn) and nitrogen co-doped carbon (M–N–C) catalysts as the most promising alternative to PGM catalysts. In this talk, I will provide a comprehensive review of significant breakthroughs, remaining challenges, and perspectives regarding the M–N–C catalysts in terms of catalyst activity, stability, and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance. The most considerable challenge of current M–N–C catalysts is the unsatisfied stability and rapid performance degradation in MEAs. Therefore, we further discuss practical methods and strategies to mitigate catalyst and electrode degradation, which is essential to make M–N–C catalysts viable in hydrogen fuel cell technologies.