Catalyst Design for Electrolytic CO2 Reduction Toward Low-Carbon Fuels and Chemicals

摘要

Abstract Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an attractive way to simultaneously convert CO2 into value-added fuels and chemicals as well as to store intermittent electricity derived from renewable energy. However, this process involves multiple proton and electron transfer steps and is kinetically sluggish, thus leading to low conversion efficiency from electrical energy to chemical energy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop highly efficient CO2RR catalysts with high activity, selectivity and stability. In this review, we firstly introduce the fundamentals of CO2RR and then discuss the synthesis, characterization, catalytic performance and reaction mechanism of various catalysts based on specific CO2RR products. The structure-performance relationships of some representative catalyst systems are highlighted, benefiting from advanced electrochemical in situ and operando spectroscopic characterizations. At the end, we illustrate existing challenges and emerging research directions, to design new generation of highly efficient catalysts and to advance both fundamental research and practical application of CO2RR to low-carbon fuels and chemicals.Graphical abstract