Raising electrocatalysis by rationally devising catalysts plays a core role in almost all renewable energy conversion and storage systems. The principal catalytic properties can be controlled and improved well by manipulation of interfaces, ascribed to the interactions among different components/players at the interfaces. In particular, manipulating interfaces down to atomic scales is becoming increasingly attractive, not only because those atoms at around the interface are the key players during electrocatalysis, but also, understandings on the atomic level electrocatalysis allow one to gain deep insights into the reaction mechanism. With the feature down‐sizing to atomic scales, there is a timely need to redefine the interfaces, as some of them have gone beyond the conventionally perceived interfacial concept. In this overview, the key active players participating in the interfacial manipulation of electrocatalysts are examined, from a new angle of “atomic interface,” including those individual atoms, defects, and their interactions, together with the essential characterization techniques for them. The specific approaches and pathways to engineer better atomic interfaces are investigated, and thus to enable the unique electrocatalysis for targeted applications. Looking beyond recent progress, the challenges and prospects of the atomic level interfacial engineering are also briefly visited.

中文翻译：

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将电催化剂的界面控制到原子尺度：基础、策略和电催化应用

通过合理设计催化剂来提高电催化能力，在几乎所有可再生能源转换和存储系统中都发挥着核心作用。由于界面上不同组分/参与者之间的相互作用，可以通过操纵界面很好地控制和改善主要催化性能。特别是，将界面操作到原子尺度变得越来越有吸引力，不仅因为界面周围的原子是电催化过程中的关键参与者，而且对原子级电催化的理解使人们能够深入了解反应机理。随着特征缩小到原子尺度，需要及时重新定义界面，因为其中一些已经超越了传统感知的界面概念。在本概述中，从“原子界面”的新角度研究了参与电催化剂界面操作的关键活跃参与者，包括那些单个原子、缺陷及其相互作用，以及它们的基本表征技术。研究了设计更好的原子界面的具体方法和途径，从而为目标应用提供独特的电催化。除了最近的进展之外，还简要介绍了原子级界面工程的挑战和前景。研究了设计更好的原子界面的具体方法和途径，从而为目标应用提供独特的电催化。除了最近的进展之外，还简要介绍了原子级界面工程的挑战和前景。研究了设计更好的原子界面的具体方法和途径，从而为目标应用提供独特的电催化。除了最近的进展之外，还简要介绍了原子级界面工程的挑战和前景。