Chemical Reactions at Electrified Interfaces

ConspectusContact electrification (CE) is a ubiquitous interfacial phenomenon in which charge transfer occurs when two materials come into contact and subsequently separate. Remarkably, a growing body of evidence shows that CE can initiate and sustain a wide range of chemical reactions without the need for conventional thermal or photonic activation. In particular, solid-liquid CE has recently emerged as a versatile platform for sustainable chemistry, characterized by broad material compatibility, in situ radical generation, and the ability to drive diverse redox transformations. Besides, reactions occurring at gas-liquid and immiscible liquid-liquid interfaces often proceed orders of magnitude faster than in the bulk phase, underscoring the unique reactivity associated with interfacial environments. Despite these advances, the fundamental driving forces behind CE-induced chemistry remain contested, including the pathways of charge transfer and the mechanisms by which interfacial charges influence reaction coordinates. This perspective focuses on the interplay among solid-liquid CE, interfacial electron and ion transfer, and the localized triboelectric fields established during CE. By highlighting the triboelectric field as an intrinsic, tunable driving force capable of modulating interfacial reactivity, we advance the view that CE offers a distinct platform for reagent-free, sustainable chemical transformations.