Carbon-based materials for electrochemical dechlorination

Electrochemical dechlorination reaction (EDR) is a promising, environmentally friendly, and economically profitable technology for treating chlorinated organic pollutants. For efficient environmental protection, electrocatalysts with high stability and low cost are of extremely significance to the development of EDR technology. Carbon-based materials have aroused broad interest as electrocatalysts for many electrochemical reactions due to their characteristics including large specific surface area, controllable structure, good conductivity, and chemical stability. For EDR, the carbon-based materials also show many unique superiorities, like strong adsorption capacity to chlorinated organic compounds (COCs), excellent catalytic activity and stability, and environmental compatibility. This review starts with a detailed summary on the mechanisms of electrochemical dechlorination (direct and indirect electron transfer pathway) and factors affecting the effectiveness of EDR. Then the paper comprehensively overviews the current progresses of carbon-based materials for EDR of COCs, following their two major application scenarios, i.e., directly as electrocatalysts and as advanced supports for other catalysts. Moreover, the formation of different active sites in carbon-based electrocatalysts and their EDR activities are analyzed. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives in this field are discussed. This review will provide an in-depth understanding for the design of advanced carbon-based materials and promote the development of EDR technology.