Promises of Main Group Metal–Based Nanostructured Materials for Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction to Formate

TLDR

Selective CO₂ reduction to formic acid or formate is the most viable electrochemical CO₂ valorization route, yet main‑group metal–based nanostructured materials, though promising, face several challenges. The review surveys the current status, challenges, and future opportunities of main‑group metal–based nanostructured materials for electrochemical CO₂ reduction to formate. The authors outline the fundamentals of electrochemical CO₂ reduction—including product viability, reaction pathways, experimental protocols, and performance metrics—then discuss material design principles for main‑group metal–based electrocatalysts, and review recent advances in flow cells, membrane electrode assemblies, and in‑situ mechanistic studies. The review concludes with a perspective on future opportunities and directions for this field.

Abstract

Abstract Selective CO 2 reduction to formic acid or formate is the most technologically and economically viable approach to realize electrochemical CO 2 valorization. Main group metal–based (Sn, Bi, In, Pb, and Sb) nanostructured materials hold great promise, but are still confronted with several challenges. Here, the current status, challenges, and future opportunities of main group metal–based nanostructured materials for electrochemical CO 2 reduction to formate are reviewed. Firstly, the fundamentals of electrochemical CO 2 reduction are presented, including the technoeconomic viability of different products, possible reaction pathways, standard experimental procedure, and performance figures of merit. This is then followed by detailed discussions about different types of main group metal–based electrocatalyst materials, with an emphasis on underlying material design principles for promoting the reaction activity, selectivity, and stability. Subsequently, recent efforts on flow cells and membrane electrode assembly cells are reviewed so as to promote the current density as well as mechanistic studies using in situ characterization techniques. To conclude a short perspective is offered about the future opportunities and directions of this exciting field.