Recent progress of Bi-based electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

To mitigate excessively accumulated carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and tackle the associated environmental concerns, green and effective approaches are necessary. The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) using sustainable electricity under benign reaction conditions represents a viable way to produce value-added and profitable chemicals. In this minireview, recent studies regarding unary Bi electrocatalysts and binary BiSn electrocatalysts are symmetrically categorized and reviewed, as they disclose high faradaic efficiencies toward the production of formate/formic acid, which has a relatively higher value of up to 0.50 $center dot per kg and has been widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. In particular, the preparation methodologies, electrocatalyst morphologies, catalytic performances and the corresponding mechanisms are comprehensively presented. The use of solid-state electrolytes showing high economic prospects for directly obtaining high-purity formic acid is highlighted. Finally, the remaining questions and challenges for CO2RR exploitations using Bi-related electrocatalysts are proposed, while perspectives and the corresponding strategies aiming to enhance their entire catalytic functionalities and boost their performance are provided.

Automated summary

In order to tackle the issue of carbon dioxide, the applications of unary Bi electrocatalysts and binary BiSn electrocatalysts in CO2RR were studied. These catalysts demonstrate high faradaic efficiencies in producing formic acid, which has significant value in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, the use of solid-state electrolytes shows promise in achieving high-purity formic acid production.