Tailoring Manganese‐Based Electrocatalysts: A Comprehensive Review on Synthesis Strategies, Structural Engineering, Mechanistic Insights, and Emerging Applications in Energy and Environmental Technologies

Abstract Manganese‐based electrocatalytic materials have emerged as pivotal candidates for sustainable energy conversion and environmental remediation, owing to their cost‐effectiveness, structural versatility, and tunable electronic properties. This review systematically elucidates the synthesis strategies, including liquid‐phase, solid‐phase, electrochemical, and biosynthetic methods, for tailoring manganese oxides, composites, and nanostructures, which emphasizes their unique advantages in controlling crystallinity, morphology, and active site exposure. Innovations such as heterointerface engineering (e.g., Ir‐doped MnO ₂ for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and atomic‐scale design (e.g., Mn‐N ₄ sites for CO ₂ reduction) are highlighted, demonstrating enhanced activity and stability in applications like water splitting, fuel cells, and wastewater treatment. The review further addresses mechanistic insights into valence‐state dynamics and synergistic effects, bridging gaps in fundamental understanding. Unlike previous reviews focusing on isolated material classes or specific reactions, this work offers a comprehensive analysis spanning energy and environmental applications, while critically evaluating scalability challenges and stability‐performance trade‐offs. By integrating advanced characterization with theoretical studies, it provides a roadmap for optimizing manganese‐based catalysts, underscoring their transformative potential in achieving sustainable development goals. This holistic perspective distinguishes it from existing literature, positioning manganese‐based materials as indispensable for next‐generation electrocatalytic technologies.