Toward efficient catalysts for electrochemical CO2 conversion to C2 products

Abstract

With impressive progress in carbon capture and renewable energy, carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion into useful chemicals has become a potential tool against climate change. Electrochemical CO2 conversion into C2 products (ethylene and ethanol) is an especially economically promising approach and an active research area. Nonetheless, catalyst layer design for CO2 conversion is challenging because of the complex CO2-to-C2 reaction pathways. In this review, we highlight key ideas in catalyst layer design for CO2 conversion to C2 in the past few years. We identify three fundamental principles to control catalyst selectivity—local CO2 and CO concentration, local pH, and intermediate–catalyst interaction. To achieve these goals, we introduce design strategies for both catalytic materials and overall catalyst layer morphology.