Copper/Carbon Materials for Sustainable Chemical Processes: Synthesis, Function, and Future Directions

ABSTRACT Copper–carbon catalysts have emerged as promising systems for sustainable chemical processes, particularly in biomass conversion, where efficient and selective transformations are required. Their performance arises from the synergistic interaction between copper species, which provide active redox sites, and carbon materials, which offer high surface area, tunable porosity, and enhanced conductivity. This review discusses the fundamental role of copper–carbon interactions and the function of carbon supports in stabilizing active species and facilitating electron transfer. Recent advances in catalyst synthesis and functionalization are summarized, including hydrothermal methods, impregnation, pyrolysis of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), together with surface modification strategies to improve dispersion, stability, and catalytic activity. The review further highlights applications in biomass valorization, focusing on the conversion of biomass into value‐added chemicals and emphasizing mechanistic insights from density functional theory (DFT) studies, electron transfer pathways, and selective oxidation reactions. Current challenges related to catalyst stability, structural control, and large‐scale implementation are also discussed. Finally, future perspectives are outlined, emphasizing the development of durable catalysts, scalable synthesis methods, and deeper mechanistic understanding for sustainable biomass conversion.