Prospects of CO₂ Utilization via Direct Heterogeneous Electrochemical Reduction

TLDR

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ can produce formic acid, CO, methane, and ethylene with high efficiency, providing feedstocks for synthesis or hydrocarbon fuels. This perspective reviews heterogeneous electrochemical CO₂ conversion as a strategy to recycle CO₂ into renewable fuels, store electrical energy chemically, and mitigate climate change. While progress is promising, significant improvements in catalysts, electrolytes, and reactor design are required for CO₂ electroconversion to become a viable climate‑mitigation technology.

Abstract

This Perspective highlights recent efforts and opportunities in the heterogeneous electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to help address the global issues of climate change and sustainable energy production. Recent research has shown that the electrochemical reduction of CO2 can produce a variety of organic compounds such as formic acid, carbon monoxide, methane, and ethylene with high current efficiency. These products can be used as feedstocks for chemical synthesis or converted into hydrocarbon fuels. This process is of interest (i) for the recycling of CO2 as an energy carrier, thereby reducing its accumulation in the atmosphere, (ii) for the production of renewable hydrocarbon fuels from CO2, water, and renewable electricity for use as transportation fuels, and (iii) as a convenient means of storing electrical energy in chemical form to level the electrical output from intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. Accomplishments to date in this field of study have been encouraging, yet substantial advances in catalyst, electrolyte, and reactor design are needed for CO2 utilization via electrochemical conversion to become a technology that can help address climate change and shift society to renewable energy sources.