Current Progress and Future Challenges in Advanced Manganese‐Based Catalysts for the Oxidation Degradation of Indoor Formaldehyde

ABSTRACT Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a common and harmful volatile organic compound (VOC) that poses a significant risk to human health. Therefore, its effective removal is critical for safeguarding human health and protecting the environment. Among the catalysts for the HCHO degradation, manganese‐based catalysts (Mn‐BCs) are regarded as one of the most promising candidate materials due to their high catalytic activity, affordability, and environmental friendliness. In this work, we systematically summarize the development and challenges of Mn‐BCs in the field of HCHO degradation. The novelty of this review is two‐fold. First, unlike previous reviews that focus on single aspects, this work systematically integrates the key factors governing the catalytic activity of Mn‐BCs, including crystal structure, morphology, specific surface area, porosity, doping effects (alkali metals, transition metals, noble metals), and support interactions. Second, this review comprehensively bridges the gap between laboratory research and practical application by summarizing gas‐phase indoor HCHO removal and aqueous HCHO wastewater treatment. Furthermore, for the first time, we propose a gas‐liquid‐solid three‐phase synergistic purification system for room‐temperature HCHO degradation. In addition, three typical theoretical models, including Mars‐van‐Krevelen, Eley‐Rideal, and Langmuir‐Hinshelwood, and their synergistic effects are deeply discussed in depth to support the catalytic oxidation of HCHO over Mn‐BCs. The practical applications of Mn‐BCs for HCHO degradation are systemically presented. In particular, a novel room‐temperature degradation process assisted by Mn‐BCs is proposed for aqueous HCHO solutions. Overall, this work deeply describes the challenges and development of Mn‐BCs for HCHO degradation, which may offer new insights for the development of highly efficient and stable Mn‐BCs.