Reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) using ‘p’ & ‘d’ block electro-catalysts: A review

Abstract Carbon Dioxide pollution is the prime origin of climatic change, the rising of Earth’s surface temperature. A temperature analysis performed at NASA reported that Earth’s average temperature has increased by around 0.8 °C since 1880. From 1950–2004, CO2 emission from the burning of fossil fuels has increased by 79.39 %. India, the U.S., China, being the highest CO2 emitters of the world, are bearing an economic loss of $206 billion, $254 billion, and $243.6 billion, respectively. This depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the impacts of anthropogenic CO2 can be mitigated by electrochemically reducing CO2 to generate chemical feedstock and fuels. In this context, the present article discusses recent research progress in developing various catalysts among p and d-block elements to act as a cathodic working electrode with appropriate catholyte for electrochemical reduction of CO2. Further, it describes a promising mechanism to convert CO2 into other products via the electrochemical reduction process and reduction apparatus. The foremost aspect for considering p and d-block catalysts are screened alongside their methods/processes to prepare them as electrodes. Then the formation of various chemical compounds and their allied characteristics using novel catalysts are discussed.