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  • Review Article
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Advances and challenges in understanding the electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels

Abstract

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide is a promising approach for storing (excess) renewable electricity as chemical energy in fuels. Here, we review recent advances and challenges in the understanding of electrochemical CO2 reduction. We discuss existing models for the initial activation of CO2 on the electrocatalyst and their importance for understanding selectivity. Carbon–carbon bond formation is also a key mechanistic step in CO2 electroreduction to high-density and high-value fuels. We show that both the initial CO2 activation and C–C bond formation are influenced by an intricate interplay between surface structure (both on the nano- and on the mesoscale), electrolyte effects (pH, buffer strength, ion effects) and mass transport conditions. This complex interplay is currently still far from being completely understood. In addition, we discuss recent progress in in situ spectroscopic techniques and computational techniques for mechanistic work. Finally, we identify some challenges in furthering our understanding of these themes.

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Fig. 1: Overview of themes discussed in this review.
Fig. 2: Overview of reaction pathways for CO2RR towards different products.
Fig. 3: Schematic of the different length scales involved in the understanding of CO2RR and of the influence of relevant parameters.
Fig. 4: In situ spectroelectrochemical techniques used in the understanding of CO2RR.
Fig. 5: Fundamentals of descriptor-based analyses for CO2RR.
Fig. 6: Recent progress in descriptor-based analyses.

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Acknowledgements

The work by M.C.F. was partially funded by Bayer MaterialScience/Covestro. The work by A.J.G. was made possible by financial support of NWO and Shell Global Solutions International B.V., as part of the programme ‘CO2 neutral fuels’ of the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM). F.C.-V. thanks the Spanish MICIU for a Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC-2015-18996) and financial support through the program ‘Units of Excellence María de Maeztu’ (grant MDM-2017–0767).

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Birdja, Y.Y., Pérez-Gallent, E., Figueiredo, M.C. et al. Advances and challenges in understanding the electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels. Nat Energy 4, 732–745 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-019-0450-y

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