Park, Junbeom Park, Jaemin Seok, Jun Ho Byun, Ji Soo Oh, Cheoulwoo Kim, Eung-Dab Ko, Young-Jin Kim, Youngeun Sim, Gawon Kim, Min Jae Bang, Hyeon-Seok Park, Ho Seok Yoo, Chun-Jae Lee, Sang Uck Oh, Hyung-Suk Kim, Kwang Ho Yang, Wooseok 2026-01-15T10:00:25Z 2026-01-15T10:00:25Z 2026-01-12 2026-02 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/154048 The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remain a major bottleneck for energy conversion systems such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Here, the synthesis of molybdenum single-atom catalysts (Mo SACs) derived from abundant and low-cost Kraft lignin is reported. By tuning nitrogen incorporation during carbonization, agglomerated Mo carbide clusters are progressively converted into atomically dispersed Mo active centers anchored on N-doped carbon. Extensive spectroscopic analyses confirm this structural evolution, while density functional theory calculations reveal that the optimized Mo coordination environment downshifts the d-band center, enabling the balanced adsorption of oxygen intermediates and thereby improving the intrinsic ORR activity. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate enhanced half-wave potential, near-four-electron transfer pathway, superior selectivity, and excellent durability, with ≈85% current retention over 50 h. Beyond performance, the use of minimally processed Kraft lignin underscores both the economic and environmental advantages of this approach, offering a scalable and sustainable pathway to practical ORR electrocatalysts. English Wiley-VCH Verlag Modulation of Electronic Structure in Kraft Lignin-Derived Mo Single-Atom Catalysts for Optimized Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction Article 10.1002/advs.202522273 1 Advanced Science, v.13, no.12 Advanced Science 13 12 Y scie scopus 2-s2.0-105024689773 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Chemistry Science & Technology - Other Topics Materials Science Article; Early Access DOPED CARBON EFFICIENT NITROGEN ELECTROCATALYST biomass fuel cell lignin-derived catalyst oxygen reduction reaction atomic dispersion