Recent advances in platinum-based single-atom photocatalysts from atomic engineering to sustainable solar utilization

The development of efficient, low-cost photocatalysts is crucial for advancing photocatalysis, a promising technology that uses solar energy to mitigate environmental pollution and produce renewable fuels and chemicals. Among various candidates, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered increasing attention due to their maximized atomic utilization efficiency and highly tunable electronic structures. In particular, Pt-based SACs exhibit exceptional promise, leveraging the high activity, structural stability, and low toxicity of Pt species in photocatalytic processes. In this paper, advanced characterization techniques for identifying and investigating the atomic structure of Pt SACs are emphasized. Subsequently, the types of supports used for anchoring Pt single atoms (SAs) are classified to elucidate their formation mechanisms and coordination environments. Furthermore, the recent advances in Pt-based SACs for photocatalytic applications are comprehensively summarized, including photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, CO₂ reduction, and environmental remediation. Finally, the challenges and prospects of Pt-based SACs in practical applications are expounded from multiple perspectives. This review advances the core mechanistic understanding of single-atom photocatalyst rational design, holding great promise for breakthroughs in fundamental catalytic research and theoretical innovations in sustainable catalysis.