This review summarizes the development of electrochemical CO 2 reduction catalysts in the UNC Energy Frontier Research Center for Solar Fuels. Two strategies for converting CO 2 to CO or formate have been explored. In one, polypyridyl complexes of Ru(II) have been used to reduce CO 2 to CO in acetonitrile and in acetonitrile/water mixtures. In the absence of CO 2 water is reduced to H 2 by these complexes. With added weak acids in acetonitrile with added water and CO 2 , reduction to syngas mixtures of CO and H 2 is observed. A single polypyridyl complex of Ru(II) has been shown to be both a catalyst for water oxidation and CO 2 reduction in an electrochemical cell for CO 2 splitting into CO and O 2 . In parallel, Ir pincer catalysts have been shown to act as selective electrocatalysts for reducing CO 2 to formate in acetonitrile with added water and in pure water without competition from electrocatalytic H 2 production. Details of the catalytic mechanisms of each have also been investigated.The world's energy future is being driven by increased demand which is currently met by increasing use of fossil fuels with their associated environmental impact through the greenhouse gas effect [1]. With technologies that evolve to become cost effective, renewable energy is the appealing energy source of the future with the sun the ultimate energy source. However, large-scale use of solar energy requires large land areas and a vast energy storage capability for nighttime and on-demand utilization. Natural photosynthesis is appealing with energy conversion through stored biomass but, with typical solar efficiencies of B1 %, is impractical as a source for the high energy densities required to power urban centers and industrial complexes. A long-term solution is potentially available based on ''artificial photosynthesis'' with solar fuels the product, water splitting into H 2 and O 2 or reduction of CO 2 to a carbon fuel or carbon fuel precursor [2]. Solar-driven reduction of CO 2 by water occurs in green plants and photosynthetic bacteria and is an inspiration for the development of an artificial photosynthesis-based equivalent. Given the impressive efficiencies reached with current semiconductor technology for photovotaic devices, far higher efficiencies should be reachable in artificial photosynthesis compared to natural photosynthesis with a target of [10 % being a reasonable goal. The products of artificial photosynthesis are so-called solar fuels, highenergy density molecules with solar energy stored in chemical bonds. As noted above, target reactions are water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen, and reduction of CO 2 to CO, formic acid, methanol or other reduced forms of carbon, with hydrocarbons especially attractive because