Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 100178.doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100178

• REVIEW • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Tailored spin states: a transformative paradigm for sustainable catalysis

Wei Ren1, Jinhe Li1, Chengzhang Zhu2,*(), Weikang Wang1, Qinqin Liu1,*()   

  1. 1 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu Provicne, China
    2 School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Provicne, China
  • Received:2025-07-18 Revised:2025-08-29 Accepted:2025-09-01 Published:2026-01-29
  • Contact: Email: zhucz@njtech.edu.cn (Chengzhang Zhu)qqliu@ujs.edu.cn (Qinqin Liu)

Abstract:

Amid escalating global sustainability pressures and energy-environmental crises, catalytic innovation has reached a pivotal inflection point. Electron spin manipulation emerges as a transformative paradigm, fundamentally rewiring reaction pathways at the quantum level, transcending classical electronic and geometric constraints. This review frames spin-engineered active centers as molecular spin switches, governing orbital symmetry matching, spin-polarized electron transfer, and transition-state energy landscapes. Covering diverse catalytic materials including metal oxides (e.g., Co3O4, Y2Ru2O7), sulfides, alloys, and coordination compounds (e.g., MOF-Co/Cu/Ni), we elucidate how targeted spin-state modulation—achieved via coordination engineering (doping/defect introduction, ligand regulation), valence modulation, size control (quantum confinement), and external stimuli (magnetic coupling)—dynamically tailors d-orbital occupancy to optimize intermediate adsorption and overcome thermodynamic scaling limitations. Critically, these engineered spin configurations mediate accelerated charge-transfer kinetics, thereby expediting rate-determining steps and elevating overall catalytic performance. By integrating advanced spin-sensitive characterization with theoretical calculation, this review summarizes how precisely tailored high- and low-spin states yield unprecedented enhancements in key reactions such as oxygen reduction, CO2 reduction, hydrogen evolution, urea synthesis, and battery-related reactions. The perspective advances an innovation framework where nonequilibrium spin control and spin-coherent catalysis will pioneer next-generation sustainable energy technologies.

Key words: Spin controlling, Catalytic reaction, Spin modulation method, Characterization technique