Beyond Activity: The Unified Framework of the Sabatier Principle to Guide Rational Design of Durable and Active Electrocatalysts

ABSTRACT Based on the Sabatier principle, catalysts with optimal catalytic activity can be engineered by the selection of the appropriate metal and support, along with precise regulation of the interaction strength between metal nanoparticles and the support materials. Besides the traditional Sabatier principle related to the catalytic activities of the electrocatalyst, a new Sabatier principle was proposed to manifest the volcano shape of the metal–support interaction to durability. Although considerable attention has been devoted to the Sabatier principle for predicting catalytic activity, its implications for the stability and durability of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have not been systematically examined. In this review, we will introduce the fundamentals of the Sabatier principle and focus on the novel application frontier of the Sabatier principle of tailoring metal–support interactions for durable electrocatalysis. The application includes a critical analysis of both supported catalysts (such as single‐atom catalysts, nano‐islands, and intermetallics) and unsupported catalyst systems (such as supportless and surrounded catalysts). Analysis of the Sabatier principle ensures optimal catalytic activity by balancing reactant adsorption and desorption, whereas metal–support interactions fine‐tune durability against sintering through electronic and structural effects. The integration of the Sabatier principles is pivotal for the rational design of efficient, stable, and selective catalysts, thereby advancing technologies for industrial and environmental sustainability.