Sn-based electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO 2 reduction

Electrochemical CO reduction into value-added chemicals represents an attractive and promising approach to capitalize on the abundant CO present in the atmosphere. This reaction, however, is hampered by low energy efficiency and selectivity owing to competition from hydrogen evolution reaction and multiple-electron transfer processes. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop efficient yet cost-effective electrocatalysts to facilitate practical applications. Sn-based electrocatalysts have gained increasing attention in this active field due to their outstanding merits such as abundance, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in Sn-based catalysts for the CO reduction reaction (CO RR), beginning with a brief introduction to the CO RR mechanism. Subsequently, the CO RR performance of various Sn-based catalysts with different structures is discussed. The article concludes by addressing the existing challenges and offering personal perspectives on the future prospects in this exciting research area.