Nanomaterials Facilitating Conversion Efficiency Strategies for Microbial CO2 Reduction

Microbial electro‐ and photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction represents an opportunity to tackle the environmental demand for sustainable fuel production. Nanomaterials critically impact the electricity‐ and solar‐driven microbial CO2 reduction processes. This minireview comprehensively summarizes the recent developments in the configuration and design of nanomaterials for enhancement of the bacterial adhesion and extracellular electron transfer (EET) processes, based on the modification technologies of improving chemical stability, electrochemical conductivity, biocompatibility, and surface area. Furthermore, the investigation of incorporating non‐photosynthetic microorganisms using advanced light‐harvesting nanostructured photoelectrodes for solar‐to‐chemical conversion, as well as the current understanding of EET mechanisms occurring at photosynthetic semiconductor nanomaterials‐bacteria biohybrid interface is detailed. The crucial factors influencing the performance of microbial CO2 reduction systems and future perspectives are discussed to provide guidance for the realization of their large‐scale application. Insight into a sustainable and environmentally valuable technology: Benefitting from superior chemical stability, electrochemical conductivity, biocompatibility, and surface area, functional nanomaterials‐based electrocathodes, nanostructured photocathodes, and semiconductor nanomaterials have been recognized as promising candidates for microbial CO2 reduction to value‐added chemicals. This minireview surveys the latest advances in the rational design of nanomaterials for different types of microbial CO2 reduction systems.