Application of electrochemical methods in heterogeneous catalysis

In this minireview, electro-catalytic activation of some representative alcohols and greenhouse gases CO2 are taken as examples to comprehensively analyze the state of the art of electrocatalysis, and then recent research progress in the characterization techniques for electrocatalysis are also summarized, and several viewpoints on the further development of electrocatalysis are promoted in the end. Overall, further development of the electrocatalysis technique depends on design and exploitation of high-efficiency inexpensive catalysts, high-resolution operando characterization methods, accurate reaction process control as well as optimization of reaction systems.