Recent Technological Progress in CO2 Electroreduction to Fuels and Energy Carriers in Aqueous Environments

Here we review recent developments and technological advances in the field of electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to fuels, energy carriers and precursors and other interesting building blocks for industrial applications. Synthetic hydrocarbon fuels derived from CO2/H2O are proposed as alternatives to hydrogen as an energy carrier that enables a carbon-neutral energy cycle, given their inherent advantages of high H/C ratio and convenience of storage and transportation. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 represents a feasible route for the direct generation of hydrocarbon fuels or their precursors (i.e., synthesis gas) using CO2/H2O. Such hydrocarbons fit well within the existing energy infrastructure because of their similarity to existing fossil fuels. Recently significant efforts are being devoted to the development of prototype systems, such as low- or high- temperature electrolyzers that operate as part of environmentally sustainable energy networks.