Advancing C-C Coupling of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Reaction for C2+ Products

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to multicarbon products, focusing on catalyst design, reaction mechanisms, and strategies to improve C-C coupling efficiency for sustainable chemical production.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental mechanisms and emerging strategies for catalyst design to enhance C2+ product formation in CO2RR.

Findings

Understanding of C-C coupling mechanisms

Strategies for catalyst surface optimization

Guidelines for designing effective catalysts

Abstract

The production of multicarbon (C2+) products through electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is crucial to addressing global environmental challenges and advancing sustainable energy solutions. However, efficiently producing these high-value chemicals via C-C coupling reactions is a significant challenge. This requires catalysts with optimized surface configurations and electronic properties capable of breaking the scaling relations among various intermediates. In this report, we introduce the fundamentals of electrocatalytic CO2RR and the mechanism of C-C coupling. We examine the effects of catalytic surface interactions with key intermediates and reaction pathways, and discuss emerging strategies for enhancing C-C coupling reactions toward C2+ products. Despite varieties of these strategies, we summarize direct clues for the proper design of the catalyst for the electrocatalytic CO2RR towards C2+ products, aiming to provide valuable insights to broad readers in the field.