Single-atom catalysts for the upgrading of biomass-derived molecules: an overview of their preparation, properties and applications

The development of more efficient and greener catalytic strategies for the upgrading of biomass to value-added chemicals is crucial to achieve a more sustainable future. In recent years, cutting-edge single-atom catalysts (SACs) and single-atom alloys (SAAs) have proved to be promising materials to overcome the issues associated with conventional catalytic approaches, and their use in biomass valorization has become a fast-growing field. An overview is provided for the preparation, characterization and catalytic evaluation of SACs and SAAs in biomass upgrading reactions. Herein, we start by discussing basic concepts in the field, proceed through the reactions for the valorization of lignocellulosics and glycerol, and finally provide a critical outlook on this timely topic.