Fine-Tuning the Oxygen-Containing Functional Groups in Carbon-Based Materials for Electrocatalytic Reactions

The development of highly efficient and sustainable electrocatalytic technologies offers a significant solution to the growing global demand for energy, as well as to the achievement of carbon neutrality goals, where its success relies on the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts. Currently, carbon-based materials are promising alternative materials due to the tunable electronic structure, high conductivity, excellent stability, and abundant reserves; however, inherent inert structure significantly limits its catalytic activity. Herein, incorporating oxygen functional groups (OFGs) into carbon-based materials has been reviewed as a pivotal strategy to regulate electronic structure, charge transfer processes, and adsorption energy toward reaction intermediates, thereby enhancing electrocatalytic performance. The latest research progress of OFGs in crucial electrocatalytic reaction such as oxygen reduction reaction, CO₂ reduction reaction, and oxygen evolution reaction is systematically reviewed, deeply exploring core mechanisms of reaction kinetics regulation, while summarizing the precise structure-function relationships of different OFGs types in multireaction systems. Further, technical challenges and prospective opportunities in precise design and modulation of OFGs are discussed, offering a basis for research focusing on dynamic controllable strategies and optimal design of interfacial microenvironments. Finally, research insights and technical pathways of developing low-cost and high-performance oxygen-functionalized carbon-based materials for electrocatalytic applications are provided.