Nanostructured Materials for Heterogeneous Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction and their Related Reaction Mechanisms

The gradually increased concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has been recognized as the primary culprit for the rise of the global mean temperature. In recent years, development of routes for highly efficient conversion of CO2 has received much attention. This Review describes recent progress on the design and synthesis of solid‐state catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO2. The significance of this catalytic conversion is presented, followed by the general parameters for CO2 electroreduction and a summary of the reaction apparatus. We also discuss various types of solid catalysts based on their CO2 conversion mechanisms. We summarize the crucial factors (particle size, surface structure, composition, etc.) determining the performance for electroreduction. CO2 can do: Electroreduction of CO2 is an important CO2 conversion route because of its high environmental compatibility and good combination with other renewable energy sources. Nanostructured materials exhibit outstanding performances for heterogeneous electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. This Review describes recent advances for these nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts.