Journal of Research in Applied Chemistry

Authors: Bijesh Verma¹, Sruti Pandey², Mehul S. Sharma³, Kavita Nair⁴

Abstract: The growing demand for sustainable chemical processes has accelerated interest in electrocatalytic synthesis as a promising route for producing green chemicals. Unlike conventional thermochemical methods, electrocatalysis operates under mild conditions and enables direct utilization of renewable electricity to drive chemical transformations. This approach offers significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency, selectivity, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Electrocatalytic pathways have been extensively explored for the synthesis of value-added chemicals such as hydrogen, ammonia, carbon monoxide, formic acid, methanol, and hydrogen peroxide, often using abundant feedstocks like water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. This review discusses the fundamental principles of electrocatalytic synthesis, key electrocatalyst materials, reaction mechanisms, and recent advances in green chemical production. Special emphasis is placed on carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen reduction, and biomass-derived electrosynthesis. Current challenges related to catalyst stability, scalability, and system integration are also addressed. The paper concludes by highlighting future perspectives and the role of electrocatalysis in enabling a low-carbon chemical industry.

Keywords: Electrocatalysis; Green chemicals; CO₂ reduction; Nitrogen reduction; Sustainable synthesis; Renewable electricity