Review of Cu‐based Dual‐Site Catalysts for Multi‐Step Nitrate Reduction: Bridging Material Properties and Catalytic Mechanisms through Strategic Design

Dual-site catalysts exhibit a range of catalytic properties and coordination synergies, providing an ideal reaction platform for multi-step electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reactions (NO₃RR). The preparation of dual-site catalysts requires creating two distinct reaction sites, leading to various synthesis methods. Introducing movable reaction sites can also modify the original atomic arrangement, triggering changes in the electron distribution of materials. Regulating the microscopic electron distribution to promote the proton-based electron transfer process is a crucial research for elucidating the reaction mechanism. This review systematically examines the strategic design of Cu-based dual-site catalysts for multi-step NO₃RR, with a particular focus on bridging material properties and catalytic mechanisms. It reports the synthesis methods and reaction mechanisms of catalysts, categorizing them into four types, named noble metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Au), non-noble metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), rare earth metals (Ce), and non-metals (B, S, I). The paper compares the properties of different catalysts and proposed a scientific strategy for synthesizing dual-site catalysts, grounded in the reaction mechanism and material characteristics. Understanding the relationship between the intrinsic properties of materials and catalytic reactions can provide valuable insights for developing high-performance catalysts in the future.