(Science China Press) Are the active sites of atomically dispersed catalysts limited to the dispersed metal atoms alone? Should metal-oxide supports of atomically dispersed metal catalysts play important roles other than serving as ligands to stabilize single-atom centers? A significant vicinal effect is now demonstrated (Science Bulletin, 2018, 11) to illustrate the possible direct involvement of support in the catalysis of atomically dispersed Pd catalyst, benefiting the rational design of high-performance atomically dispersed catalysts.