Electrooxidation of 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid: A Comprehensive Interplay between Mechanistic Understanding and Advanced Catalyst Design

Abstract

Electrocatalytic oxidation of biomass-derived platform molecules represents a pivotal strategy for chemical production and reducing reliance on fossil resources. Among various biomass-derived platforms, 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) stands out as one of the most promising candidates. Its oxidation products are widely used in polymer monomers, biofuels, pharmaceutical intermediates, and fine chemicals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the electrocatalytic conversion of HMF into high-value 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). We systematically elaborate on the reaction pathways and fundamental mechanisms of HMF electrooxidation (HMFOR), summarize the advances in characterization technologies and electrocatalyst design, and evaluate the current toward industrial deployment of HMFOR. Particular attention is devoted to the indispensable roles of in situ techniques in capturing real-time reaction kinetics, as well as the contributions of density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting mechanistic understanding and directing rational catalyst development. Finally, the existing bottlenecks and future research directions are critically proposed. We anticipate that this review will not only deepen the fundamental mechanistic insights into HMFOR but also propose practical and universal design principles for constructing highly active and selective electrocatalysts, thereby accelerating the large-scale implementation and commercialization of biomass electrorefining technologies.