Unlocking the potential of high-entropy catalysts in selective electrocatalytic organic transformations

The development of efficient catalysts for selective organic transformations has emerged as a paramount research frontier in recent years. High-entropy catalysts (HECs) have emerged as a transformative platform for selective electrocatalytic organic transformations (EOTs), characterized by their abundance of active sites, adjustable specific surface areas, stable crystal structures, exceptional geometric compatibility, and unique electronic balance factors. Despite demonstrating exceptional promise for commercial exploitation, HECs for highly efficient EOTs lack systematic reviews. This review begins with a comprehensive discussion of the fundamental properties of HECs, encompassing their conceptual definitions, structural features, and the development of progressive synthesis and characterization techniques. Subsequently, it underscores the versatile implementation of selective organic transformations across diverse HECs, particularly in alcohol oxidation and biomass conversion reactions. Finally, this review systematically evaluates both the promising opportunities and key challenges in the development of high-efficiency HECs-based electrocatalytic systems for selective organic transformations. This timely overview of recent advancements in HECs-driven EOTs is anticipated to inspire the rational design of advanced high-entropy materials, enabling enhanced performance across diverse redox-catalyzed selective organic transformations of valuable feedstocks and related processes.