Reframing Reaction Pathways in Joule-Heating Catalysis: From Interfacial Heat Transfer to the Complexities of Dynamic Kinetics

Abstract

Joule-heating catalysis (JHC) creates a special catalytic environment defined by inverted inside-out heat transfer and dynamically driven kinetics, extending far beyond simple electrification of heat supply to establish a fundamentally distinct catalytic paradigm. This review provides a catalysis-centered analysis of JHC, emphasizing how the inverted thermal landscape (Tsolid > Tgas), ultrafast heating rates, and pulse-driven operation reshape catalytic activity and selectivity. JHC configurations (type I–III) are systematically classified to illustrate how conductive frameworks govern local heat delivery, interfacial energy transfer, and dynamic kinetic behavior. Particular attention is given to kinetic trapping of transient intermediates and selectivity inversion enabled by timescale engineering. Emerging non-thermal phenomena, including electric field-assisted lattice oxygen activation and electron-mediated pathways, are critically examined with emphasis on distinguishing them from microscopic thermal effects. By integrating structural design principles with mechanistic insights, this review proposes JHC as a precision platform for reprogramming reaction coordinates and accessing non-equilibrium catalytic manifolds, bridging catalysts with chemical electrification.