Research Progress of Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Abstract

The problem of global warming has become increasingly serious due to increasing carbon dioxide emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Hence, achieving carbon reduction and carbon neutrality by means of the resource utilization of CO 2 has become a priority for more in-depth research. The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 RR) is a promising way and a key technology to convert CO 2 into valuable chemicals and fuels using renewable energy. This paper briefly summarizes the CO 2 sources, the fundamentals of CO 2 RR, and summarizes the recent advancements in the metal-based, carbon-based, and composite catalysts, discussing merits, limitations and application prospects. From the above review, it is seen that metal-based catalysts are very efficient in terms of their catalytic activity; carbon-based catalysts are cost-effective and offer structural flexibility and good conductivity; whereas composite catalysts combine the advantages of multiple materials, combining high catalytic efficiency, product selectivity, and stability, thus showing promising prospects for further development. Future work should focus on advancing electrocatalytic mechanisms, the development of new catalysts, enhancing active site regulation for long-term reaction stability, and enabling the scale-up of industrial applications. The present work offers valuable knowledge for designing and optimizing highly active electrocatalysts, as well as for their practical application in CO 2 RR technologies.