Heterogeneous electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with transition metal complexes

Abstract

Reducing the atmospheric CO2 level is of a great interest these days, as it is negatively affecting our environment. Despite the large efforts invested in development of technologies for CO2 fixation, there is still no large-scale, man-made solution to deal with it. A useful strategic solution is to retrieve CO2 from the air and to reduce it into valuable products, to establish a closed carbon cycle. Reduction of CO2 by electrochemical means seems to be the most practical and economical alternative, but there is still much to be done in terms of catalysts’ development, to enable energy-efficient and cost-effective technology at-scale. In this mini-review, we will focus on the progress that has been made in the area of first-row transition metals complexes as catalysts for CO2 electro-reduction, mostly under conditions that are relevant for large scale applications.