A mini review of electrocatalytic upgrading of carbohydrate biomass—System, path, and optimization

Abstract

Upgrading carbohydrate biomass is a promising process to convert low-value carbohydrate feedstocks into high-value chemicals and fuels, which is critical for the development of a sustainable and renewable society. Among the various carbohydrate conversion technologies, electrocatalytic methods have gained increasing research interest due to their mild reaction conditions and easy accessibility. Moreover, electrocatalytic methods utilize water as a green and abundant source of hydrogen and oxygen for either reduction reactions on the cathode or oxidation reactions on the anode. In recent years, significant progress has been made in this field, with the establishment of various systems aimed at enhancing the electrocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates. In this review, recent technologies and results of electrocatalytic conversion of carbohydrates are summarized in two parts: anodic electrocatalytic oxidation (cellulose, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural [HMF], glucose, and 2-furfural) and cathodic electrocatalytic reduction (glucose, HMF, and 2-furfural). Furthermore, future outlooks for improving this field are also proposed.