Transparent wood electrode for electrocatalysis: Preparation, micro/nano structures fabrication, functionalization and applications

Transparent wood is emerging as a promising material for electrochemical applications, integrating the benefits of a natural porous structure with high transparency, mechanical flexibility, and environmental sustainability. This review examines its potential as an electrode material, covering preparation methods, structural modifications, and electrochemical properties. Compared to traditional glass-based transparent electrodes, transparent wood offers superior mechanical strength, lower density, and tunable conductivity. The incorporation of electroactive components further enhances its electrochemical performance, enabling applications in energy storage, catalysis, and flexible electronics. Advanced processing techniques, including wet etching, ion beam etching, photolithography, and femtosecond laser processing, enable precise control over material properties and functionality. This article discusses transparent wood electrodes, rather than transparent wood or wood electrodes. The advantages of both, namely transparency and porosity, were combined to explore the prospects of transparent wood electrodes with electrocatalytic function. Notably, femtosecond laser processing provides unique advantages in micro-nano structuring, catalyst integration, in-situ/operando spectroscopic characterizations, photoelectrochemical catalysis, and electrochemical performance optimization. This review highlights recent advancements in transparent wood electrodes and explores future challenges, particularly in large-scale production, cost reduction, and performance enhancement. Transparent wood-based electrochemical devices offer a novel approach to sustainable and efficient energy conversion technologies.