Advances and Prospects of Selective Electrocatalytic Upgrading of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to Furan‐2,5‐Dicarboxylic Acid

The electrocatalytic upgrading of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF, 5-(Hydroxymethyl) furan-2-carbaldehyde) has emerged as a renewable and environmentally friendly means for the production of high-value chemicals, with the oxidation product furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) possessing economic viability in substituting terephthalic acid in polymer synthesis. This article reviews the recent advancements in the selective electrocatalytic upgrading of HMF to FDCA, including the reaction pathways, mechanisms, as well as activity descriptors of HMF electrocatalytic oxidation reaction (HMFOR), alongside advanced operando characterization techniques. Subsequently, the representative HMFOR catalysts, encompassing noble metal, non-noble metal, transition metal-based catalysts and metal free-based catalysts are presented. Then strategies for regulating HMFOR activity and longevity were introduced, followed by an exploration of the future prospects for the development of HMFOR catalysts.