Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals: Challenges from laboratory research to industrial application

doi:10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64708-5

Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 73: 1-7.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64708-5

• Comment • Next Articles

Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals: Challenges from laboratory research to industrial application

Li-Li Zhang, Zhen Zhou()

Interdisciplinary Research Center for Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering (IRC4SE²), School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China

Received:2025-04-05 Accepted:2025-04-20 Online:2025-06-18 Published:2025-06-12
Contact: *E-mail: zhenzhou@zzu.edu.cn (Z. Zhou).
About author:Zhen Zhou (School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University) earned his B.S. in Applied Chemistry in 1994 and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry in 1999, both from Nankai University (P.R. China). He began his academic career at Nankai University as a lecturer in 1999. Two years later, he pursued a JSPS postdoctoral fellowship at Nagoya University (Japan). In 2005, he returned to Nankai University, where he became an associate professor and was later promoted to full professor in 2011. In 2021, he joined Zhengzhou University as a Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor and currently serves as the Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on integrating high-throughput computations, experiments, and machine learning for advancements in energy storage and conversion. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed papers, garnering 48,000 citations.
Supported by:
National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20281)

Abstract

Abstract:

Electrochemical synthesis of value-added chemicals represents a promising approach to address multidisciplinary demands. This technology establishes direct pathways for electricity-to-chemical conversion while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of chemical manufacturing. It simultaneously optimizes chemical energy storage and grid management, offering sustainable solutions for renewable energy utilization and overcoming geographical constraints in energy distribution. As a critical nexus between renewable energy and green chemistry, electrochemical synthesis serves dual roles in energy transformation and chemical production, emerging as a vital component in developing carbon-neutral circular economies. Focusing on key small molecules (H₂O, CO₂, N₂, O₂), this comment examines fundamental scientific challenges and practical barriers in electrocatalytic conversion processes, bridging laboratory innovations with industrial-scale implementation.

Key words: Electrosynthesis, Hydrogen energy, Value-added chemicals, Energy conversion, Reaction engineering

Li-Li Zhang, Zhen Zhou. Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals: Challenges from laboratory research to industrial application[J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2025, 73: 1-7.

×
share this article

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.cjcatal.com/EN/10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64708-5

https://www.cjcatal.com/EN/Y2025/V73/I6/1

Figures/Tables 3

References

[1]	L. Quan, H. Jiang, G. Mei, Y. Sun, B. You, Chem. Rev., 2024, 124, 3694-3812.
[2]	Y.-F. Tang, L.-B. Liu, M. Yu, S. Liu, P.-F. Sui, W. Sun, X.-Z. Fu, J.-L. Luo, S. Liu,, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, 53, 9344-9377.
[3]	Y. Feng, L. Jiao, X. Zhuang, Y. Wang, J. Yao, Adv. Mater., 2025, 37, 2410909.
[4]	X. Sun, J. Yang, X. Zeng, L. Guo, C. Bie, Z. Wang, K. Sun, A. K. Sahu, M. Tebyetekerwa, T. E. Rufford, X. Zhang, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2024, 63, e202414417.
[5]	Decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors with renewables: Perspectives for the G7, International Renewable Energy Agency, 2024, https://www.irena.org/Publications/2024/Apr/Decarbonising-hard-to-abate-sectors-with-renewables-Perspectives-for-the-G7 .
[6]	Q. Xia, X. Gao, J. Wu, X. Wang, Y. Zhai, S. Gong, W. Li, X. Zhang, Nat. Synth., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-025-00755-1.
[7]	D. Geng, H. Zhang, Z. Fu, Z. Liu, Y. An, J. Yang, D. Sha, L. Pan, C. Yan, Z. Sun, Adv. Sci., 2024, 11, 2407073.
[8]	H. Sun, X. Xu, H. Kim, W. Jung, W. Zhou, Z. Shao, Energy Environ. Mater., 2023, 6, e12441.
[9]	H. Chen, Y. Ma, Q. Wu, H. Xu, L. Zhang, X. Wang, X. Lyu, J. Chen, Y. Jia, Coord. Chem. Rev., 2025, 534, 216562.
[10]	Z. W. Seh, J. Kibsgaard, C. F. Dickens, I. Chorkendorff, J. K. Nørskov, T. F. Jaramillo, Science, 2017, 355, eaad4998.
[11]	M. Xie, F. Dai, H. Guo, P. Du, X. Xu, J. Liu, Z. Zhang, X. Lu, Adv. Energy Mater., 2023, 13, 2203032.
[12]	K. Yuan, H. Li, X. Gu, Y. Zheng, X. Wu, Y. Zhao, J. Zhou, S. Cui, ChemSusChem, 2025, 18, e202401952.
[13]	W. Cole, A.W. Frazier, National renewable energy laboratory (NREL), 2019, https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy19osti/73222.pdf .
[14]	D. R. MacFarlane, P. V. Cherepanov, J. Choi, B. H. R. Suryanto, R. Y. Hodgetts, J. M. Bakker, F. M. Ferrero Vallana, A. N. Simonov, Joule, 2020, 4, 1186-1205.
[15]	Q. Yu, N. Ma, C. Leung, H. Liu, Y. Ren, Z. Wei, J. Mater. Inf., 2025, 5, 9.
[16]	X. Zhang, Y. Tian, L. Chen, X. Hu, Z. Zhou, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2022, 13, 7920-7930.
[17]	A. Prajapati, C. Hahn, I. M. Weidinger, Y. Shi, Y. Lee, A. N. Alexandrova, D. Thompson, S. R. Bare, S. Chen, S. Yan, N. Kornienko, Nat. Commun., 2025, 16, 2593.
[18]	N. Yang, H. Li, X. Lin, S. Georgiadou, L. Hong, Z. Wang, F. He, Z. Qi, W.-F. Lin, J. Energy Chem., 2025, 105, 669-701.
[19]	L. Cui, B. Chen, L. Zhang, C. He, C. Shu, H. Kang, J. Qiu, W. Jing, K. K. Ostrikov, Z. Zhang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17, 655-667.
[20]	H. Yun, C. Lim, M. Kwon, D. Lee, Y. Yun, D.-H. Seo, K. Yong, Adv. Mater., 2024, 36, 2408280.
[21]	Y. Fan, Y. Chen, W. Ge, L. Dong, Y. Qi, C. Lian, X. Zhou, H. Liu, Z. Liu, H. Jiang, C. Li, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, 146, 7575-7583.
[22]	Z. Yuan, L. Liang, Q. Dai, T. Li, Q. Song, H. Zhang, G. Hou, X. Li, Joule, 2022, 6, 884-905.
[23]	Y. Zhao, D. P. Adiyeri Saseendran, C. Huang, C. A. Triana, W. R. Marks, H. Chen, H. Zhao, G. R. Patzke, Chem. Rev., 2023, 123, 6257-6358.
[24]	J. Li, Y. Yao, L. An, S. Wu, N. Zhang, J. Jin, R. Wang, P. Xi, Smart Mol., 2023, 1, e20220005.
[25]	J. Li, H. Duan, Chem, 2024, 10, 3008-3039.
[26]	M. Xu, M. F. Cobo, D. Zeng, Y. Zhang, Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2025, 19, 1.
[27]	J. M. Kim, A. Jo, K. A. Lee, H. J. Han, Y. J. Kim, H. Y. Kim, G. R. Lee, M. Kim, Y. Park, Y. S. Kang, J. Jung, K. H. Chae, E. Lee, H. C. Ham, H. Ju, Y. S. Jung, J. Y. Kim, Sci. Adv., 2021, 7, eabe9083.
[28]	J. Zhao, R. Urrego-Ortiz, N. Liao, F. Calle-Vallejo, J. Luo, Nat. Commun., 2024, 15, 6391.
[29]	S. Gong, Y. Meng, Z. Jin, H.-Y. Hsu, M. Du, F. Liu, ACS Catal., 2024, 14, 14399-14435.
[30]	L. Yan, P. Li, Q. Zhu, A. Kumar, K. Sun, S. Tian, X. Sun, Chem, 2023, 9, 280-342.
[31]	J. Nie, Z. Li, W. Liu, Z. Sang, D.-A. Yang, L. Wang, F. Hou, J. Liang, Adv. Mater., 2025, 2420236.
[32]	M. Shen, L. Ji, D. Cheng, Z. Wang, Q. Xue, S. Feng, Y. Luo, S. Chen, J. Wang, H. Zheng, X. Wang, P. Sautet, J. Zhu, Joule, 2024, 8, 1999-2015.
[33]	Y. Niu, D. Xue, X. Dai, G. Guo, X. Yang, L. Yang, Z. Bai, Nat. Sustain., 2024, 7, 1182-1189.
[34]	W. Chen, X.-Q. Qiao, G. Hui, B. Sun, D. Hou, M. Wang, X. Wu, T. Wu, D.-S. Li, J. Energy Chem., 2025, 100, 710-720.
[35]	X. Zhang, Z. Zuo, C. Liao, F. Jia, C. Cheng, Z. Guo, ACS Catal., 2024, 14, 18055-18071.
[36]	M. Wang, W. Fang, D. Zhu, C. Xia, W. Guo, B.-Y. Xia, Chin. J. Catal., 2025, 69, 1-16.

Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals: Challenges from laboratory research to industrial application

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 3

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

[1]	Hongjun Dong, Chunhong Qu, Chunmei Li, Bo Hu, Xin Li, Guijie Liang, Jizhou Jiang. Recent advances of covalent organic frameworks-based photocatalysts: Principles, designs, and applications [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2025, 70(3): 142-206.
[2]	Yaqiang Wu, Jianuo Li, Wei-Kean Chong, Zhenhua Pan, Qian Wang. Novel materials and techniques for photocatalytic water splitting developed by Professor Kazunari Domen [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2025, 68(1): 1-50.
[3]	Yamei Gan, Tiantian Chai, Jian Zhang, Cong Gao, Wei Song, Jing Wu, Liming Liu, Xiulai Chen. Light-driven CO₂ utilization for chemical production in bacterium biohybrids [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 60(5): 294-303.
[4]	Ning Song, Jizhou Jiang, Shihuan Hong, Yun Wang, Chunmei Li, Hongjun Dong. State-of-the-art advancements in single atom electrocatalysts originating from MOFs for electrochemical energy conversion [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 59(4): 38-81.
[5]	Zhentao Tu, Xiaoyang He, Xuan Liu, Dengke Xiong, Juan Zuo, Deli Wu, Jianying Wang, Zuofeng Chen. Electronic modification of Ni active sites by W for selective benzylamine oxidation and concurrent hydrogen production [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 58(3): 146-156.
[6]	Dmitry Yu. Murzin. Synergy between heterogeneous catalysis and homogeneous radical reactions for pharmaceutical waste destruction: Perspective [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 58(3): 7-14.
[7]	Guang-Hui Lu, Jian Yu, Ning Li. A chemoenzymatic cascade for sustainable production of chiral N-arylated aspartic acids from furfural and waste [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 67(12): 102-111.
[8]	Wenjuan Zhang, Gang Liu. Solar-driven H₂O₂ synthesis from H₂O and O₂ over molecular engineered organic framework photocatalysts [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 66(11): 76-109.
[9]	Gongwei Wang, Li Xiao, Lin Zhuang. General definition of hydrogen energy and related electrochemical technologies [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 56(1): 1-8.
[10]	Kehan Zhu, Haifeng Jiang, Gao-Feng Chen, Hao Wu, Liang-Xin Ding, Haihui Wang. Simultaneous electrosynthesis of nitrate and hydrogen by integrating ammonia oxidation and water reduction [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2023, 55(12): 216-226.
[11]	Huayang Zhang, Wenjie Tian, Xiaoguang Duan, Hongqi Sun, Yingping Huang, Yanfen Fang, Shaobin Wang. Single-atom catalysts on metal-based supports for solar photoreduction catalysis [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2022, 43(9): 2301-2315.
[12]	Yucong Miao, Mingfei Shao. Photoelectrocatalysis for high-value-added chemicals production [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2022, 43(3): 595-610.
[13]	Junmin Huang, Jianmin Chen, Wangxi Liu, Jingwen Zhang, Junying Chen, Yingwei Li. Copper-doped zinc sulfide nanoframes with three-dimensional photocatalytic surfaces for enhanced solar driven H₂ production [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2022, 43(3): 782-792.
[14]	Teera Chantarojsiri, Tassaneewan Soisuwan, Pornwimon Kongkiatkrai. Toward green syntheses of carboxylates: Considerations of mechanisms and reactions at the electrodes for electrocarboxylation of organohalides and alkenes [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2022, 43(12): 3046-3061.
[15]	Chen Guan, Xiaoyang Yue, Jiajie Fan, Quanjun Xiang. MXene quantum dots of Ti₃C₂: Properties, synthesis, and energy-related applications [J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2022, 43(10): 2484-2499.