Advances in Autocatalytic Electrolysis Carbon Anode

Carbon materials have become a prominent choice for electrode applications due to their excellent electrical conductivity, diverse structural morphologies, and high specific surface area, and are widely used in electrochemical systems. Notably, carbon electrodes offer advantages such as low cost, abundant availability, tunable surface defects and structures, and favorable reaction thermodynamics. These properties allow them to function as sacrificial anodes in various electrolytic systems, where they undergo continuous consumption via autocatalytic oxidation at the anode, thereby enabling energy conversion and product synthesis. Currently, electrolytic carbon technology, also referred to as electrochemical carbon oxidation, is extensively applied in fields such as aluminum electrolysis, molten salt electrolytic metallurgy, and clean hydrogen production. This article systematically reviews the role and mechanisms, reaction pathways, structural evolution, technical advantages, existing challenges, and optimization strategies of carbon electrodes in these fields. Furthermore, it provides an outlook on the future development directions of electrolytic carbon technology, aiming to offer valuable insights for further research in related areas.