Recent Advance in Innovative Strategies for CO2 Electroreduction Reaction

Carbon dioxide electroreduction reaction (CO2RR), an emerging electrocatalysis reaction, is promising for converting CO2 into value-added fuels or chemicals (e.g., hydrocarbons and oxygenates). However, the CO2RR system for practical evaluations and applications is still limited by low current density and poor CO2 utilization and conversion, and dismal energy efficiency. To reach up to the practical application level, the components of CO2RR device/system need to be systematically considered and optimized. In this review, it specifically focuses on the latest and innovative design strategies towards each part for the CO2RR system. Particularly, the innovative and idiographic design strategies for the tandem catalyst, promising electrolyte, upgraded electrode, advanced device as well as anodic reaction are discussed at length. Moreover, some individual perspectives on opportunities and future challenges for each component of CO2RR system are also provided. The perspectives and new trends presented in this review are not just labels and classifications. Instead, it particularly expects that the innovative ideas and visionary discussions in this review can systematically instruct and inspire researchers for contributing its more efforts to comprehensively optimize the performance of CO2RR system to a high level.