Electrocatalytic materials engineering: Towards the renaissance of electrochemical organic synthesis

The rapid evolution of electrochemical technology has propelled electrocatalytic organic synthesis (EOS) into the spotlight as a sustainable and selective alternative to classical organic synthesis. However, the ongoing development of EOS has been hindered by the limitations of electrode materials engineering. Therefore, there is an urgent need to comprehensively present the latest advancements in EOS and elucidate the pivotal role of electrocatalytic material engineering. In this review, we first picture the recent progress of commonly functional-group transformations in EOS, followed by a brief introduction to fundamental electrochemical setup and essential, laying the groundwork for understanding the key factors influencing EOS. This not only showcases the potential of EOS in diverse chemical transformations but also emphasizes the strong demand for improved electrocatalytic material. Most importantly, we propose a framework that deeply integrates electrocatalytic material engineering, with a particular focus on amorphization strategies, into EOS, for its broader applications. Benefiting from the efficiently tunable structure–activity relationship, electrocatalytic material engineering contributes EOS to widespread prosperity, in which the atomic economy, activity, and stability of the catalytic materials can be significantly improved, thereby promoting the cost-efficient large-scale industrialization of future electrocatalytic organic synthesis, and contributing to a more sustainable future energy and chemical industry.