Materials designs for selective electrocatalytic HMF reduction to BHMF and perspectives

The electrochemical reduction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) is an efficient and sustainable approach for biomass-based chemical production. By reviewing the fundamental mechanisms of the electrochemical reduction of HMF to BHMF and the recent successful electrocatalyst material design strategies for reactions with high selectivity and faradaic efficiency, we provide an overview of the key factors affecting the electrocatalytic reduction of HMF from a reaction mechanism perspective and discuss future directions in catalyst design.