Plasma-Assisted Electrocatalysis

Abstract

The availability of the essential commodities that underpin modern industrialized society has been made possible by efficient and large-scale chemical manufacturing. However, overdependence on fossil fuels and substantial CO2 emissions associated with the conventional processes increasingly threaten global sustainability, motivating the search for low-carbon electrified alternatives. Electrocatalytic routes, particularly for CO2 conversion and N2 fixation, have emerged as promising strategies to transform captured waste streams into value-added chemicals while enabling long-term and transportable storage of renewable electricity. Despite significant progress, electrocatalysis remains constrained by fundamental limitations in energy efficiency, selectivity, production rate, stability, and the accessible product range. In parallel, non-thermal plasma offers non-equilibrium reaction environments for electrified chemical synthesis by triggering electron-driven molecular activation. However, it also is limited by low product selectivity and low energy efficiency, as well as difficulty in coupling the ionized gas with aqueous feedstocks.In this perspective, we propose that plasma coupling with electrocatalysis could potentially overcome key bottlenecks in electrochemical synthesis reactions. After outlining the limitations of separate electrocatalysis and non-thermal plasma processes, we examine plasma-assisted electrocatalysis systems for CO2 and N2 conversion with a focus on the underlying motivations, proposed mechanisms, and current challenges. Then, we discuss potential synergies arising from plasma-electrocatalytic coupling, mechanistic knowledge gaps, and key design principles to guide future research. Through this perspective, we introduce plasma-assisted electrocatalysis as a promising yet largely unexplored paradigm that can provide access to innovative reaction pathways and contribute to the successful electrification of chemical manufacturing.