Recent progress in the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 on Cu-SAPO-34 catalysts

• Ion-exchange, impregnation and one-pot synthesis as the main preparation methods. • High activity, selectivity and high-temperature stability over Cu-SAPO-34 in NH 3 -SCR. • Low-temperature deactivation mechanisms of Cu-SAPO-34. • Breakthroughs in the NH 3 -SCR mechanisms. In recent years, Cu-exchanged small pore zeolites, such as Cu-SSZ-13 and Cu-SAPO-34, have been commercially applied in diesel after-treatment systems. Several tremendous research articles have been reported on Cu-CHA investigated in NH 3 -SCR, which makes this mini-review timely to provide inspirations for future material development. In the main body of this work, the preparation procedures of Cu-SAPO-34, the operating temperature ranges with NO x reduction activity/by-product formation, the poisoning and deactivation mechanisms as well as NH 3 -SCR reaction mechanisms over copper-containing SAPO-34 are reviewed. Last but not least, a summary and outlook are given to highlight promising candidates together with expected research directions in developing Cu-SAPO-34 for NH 3 -SCR.