Opportunities and challenges in biomass electrocatalysis and valorization

Establishing an energy infrastructure based on clean and renewable energy source is paramount. H₂ stands out as a clean and renewable energy carrier, facilitating the conversion and storage of renewable energy. While water electrolysis offers a practical avenue for green H₂ production, its high energy consumption, due to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode, presents a huge challenge. A promising solution is substituting the OER with an electrochemical reaction at a lower equilibrium potential, thereby reducing cell voltage and energy consumption for H₂ production. Simultaneously, it is promising to explore alternative anode reactions for producing value-added chemicals. The electrocatalysis of renewable biomass has emerged as a promising pathway. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in obtaining value-added products from biomass electrochemical oxidation reactions (BeOR). Additionally, it discusses the perspectives for advancing the biomass valorization in green and sustainable electrolysis technologies.