Contact electrification catalysis: mechanistic boundaries, dynamic contact networks, catalyst design, and sustainable applications.

Contact electrification catalysis (CEC) is an emerging technology that utilizes mechanical energy to drive the generation and chemical transformation of interfacial charges. As CEC research expands, the key challenge is to identify which contact interfaces generate chemically useful charges and how these charges participate in catalytic reactions. This review summarizes the mechanistic debate between ion- and electron-transfer models, discusses the physical and experimental distinction between CEC and piezocatalysis, and proposes that CEC should be understood as a dynamic interfacial charge-transfer network rather than as a reaction occurring at a single catalyst surface. Concerning catalyst design, this review traces the evolution of CEC catalysts from organic polymer-dominated systems to functional composite optimization and ultimately to atomic-level precise design. Representative environmental and energy applications are discussed to illustrate how interfacial charge-transfer pathways affect catalytic performance. Finally, we critically discuss the key challenges and future directions of CEC. This review aims to clarify the mechanistic basis of CEC and summarize the key factors governing catalyst design, interfacial charge transfer, and practical implementation.