The Structronic Concept: Harnessing Carbon─Carbon Chemical Bonding for Electron Storage and Related Applications

While the concept of storing electrons in chemical bonds is not new, innovative approaches to achieve it continue to emerge. This applies to the structronic (STR) electrochemical paradigm. Typically, when strategically positioned in space, electrophoric components within STR functional assemblies—featuring potent electrophilic centers (i.e., atomic orbitals with a significant contribution to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of their redox‐active components)—can engage in direct electronic interactions through σ‐type orbital overlap, creating a set of so‐called supra‐molecular orbitals (supra‐MOs). The core idea is to fill the potentially bonding supra‐LUMO with electrons, thereby storing them in the form of a weakened (elongated) reservoir bond. This approach bypasses electrostatic limitations by leveraging the quantum behavior of electrons within covalent bonds. STR assemblies are bistable systems that can be electrochemically cycled, allowing for the charging and discharging of stored electrons. This concept article aims to define the conditions necessary for generating these supra‐MOs, explore their electrochemical characteristics (such as hysteretic electrochemical behaviors and inversion of redox potentials), and highlight potential applications in advanced energy storage and other fields within the dynamic scope of electrochemistry.