Renewable methanol and the energy challenge: The role of electrocatalysis

Renewable methanol is deemed as efficient, low-cost, and safe alternative to fossil fuels, due to easy of handling, storage, and transportation beside versatility of production methods from earth-abundant feedstocks. Green methanol is produced form bio-methanol (i.e., gasification of biomass and agricultural wastes) and e-methanol (i.e., CO2 captured and green hydrogen from electrolysis). Owing to the ceaseless progress rational design of electrocatalysts for bio-methanol and e-methanol production, it is important to provide timely update on this area. This mini-review discusses the main merits and production methods of methanol, its electro-oxidation, and the recent advances in the electrocatalysis of renewable methanol synthesis. Moreover, the current challenges and future scenarios for attaining sustainable large-scale green methanol are discussed.