PNNL

Abstract

Electrocatalytic conversion of biomass-derived platform chemicals to value-added products can provide an approach to store large scale renewable energy (wind, solar) in chemical bonds. Recently, tremendous efforts have been made in this field. Herein, we review recent advances in electro-valorization of biomass-derived intermediates (e.g., glycerol, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF)) on both precious and non-precious metal based electrocatalysts, with a focus on the role of the electrocatalysts in electrocatalytic conversion in various electrochemical reactors. We also provide a perspective on future opportunities and challenges in this field, including catalytic materials discovery, mechanism understanding, and system design.