Synergistic carbon and hydrogen reactions in the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to liquid fuels

The electrochemical reduction reaction for the conversion of CO2 to liquid fuels in aqueous conditions (e-CO2RR-lf) is one of the promising methods for converting the greenhouse gas into easy-storage fuels. Unfortunately, electrocatalysts for e-CO2RR-lf cannot satisfy the industrial requirements because they are sluggish in kinetics and poor in selectivity. To ensure the activity and selectivity of e-CO2RR-lf on electrocatalysts, the carbon reaction (CO2 to carbon intermediates and then to organic liquid fuels) and hydrogen reaction (hydrogenation of the carbon intermediates) in e-CO2RR-lf should be fast and generate specific intermediates for basic reactions with high selectivity. Therefore, the rational design of the composition and structure of electrocatalysts is critical to improving the catalytic performance of these two reactions in e-CO2RR-lf. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the strategies for designing electrocatalysts to enhance the hydrogen and carbon reactions. Suggestions to control the composition and structure of electrocatalysts that can accelerate the reaction rate and the selectivity of hydrogen and carbon reactions, and improve the rate and selectivity of e-CO2RR-lf are given at the end. We expect that the concepts of promoting e-CO2RR-lf by enhancing the hydrogen and carbon reactions can guide the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts with high performance in the near future.

Automated summary

This article discusses the prospects, challenges, and solutions of the electrochemical reduction reaction for converting CO2 to liquid fuels in aqueous conditions, emphasizing the critical importance of rational design of the composition and structure of electrocatalysts to improve reaction efficiency.