Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂ to Alcohols: Current Understanding, Progress, and Challenges

Abstract

In comparison with conventional methods, electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) represents a promising and environmentally friendly method to generate value‐added products and mitigate anthropogenic climate change. Herein, the recently reported CO2RR catalysts that show high selectivity and activity toward alcohol production are highlighted. The current understanding of reaction pathways on different catalyst surfaces for alcohol production is highlighted and strategies to enhance CO2RR catalytic performance are discussed. Finally, the views on the challenges and possible future paths for the field are shared.

System Engineering Enhances Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction

“…For example, binary copper iron can benefit the PEC-CO 2 RR to CH 4 with a Faradaic efficiency of 50% . The oxidation state can affect the adsorption of CO 2 and hydrolysis, enhancing the stability of Cu 2 O. , Ligands on nanoporous Si/Ag can promote the Faradaic efficiency of CO 2 reduction to CO from 50% to 75% . Meanwhile, metal–organics like metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have also been suggested to promote the efficiency and stability of the PEC-CO 2 RR .…”

Reactive Capture of CO2: Opportunities and Challenges

“…It can be converted to CO and ethylene, which both have extensive and large-scale uses in the existing chemical and fuel industries. Alcohols are also essential precursors that can be produced from CO 2 , and they can be used as liquid fuels due to their high energy densities . As a result, the electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to alcohols also contributes to the biodiversity and maintenance of food crops.…”

Metal‐Doped PdH(111) Catalysts for CO2 Reduction

“…The CO 2 utilization technology of the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is considered as a promising strategy to convert CO 2 into valuable chemicals as it is not only beneficial to carbon recycling but also conducive to increasing chemical energy storage [3] . So far, significant efforts have been made to reduce CO 2 to C 1 −C 3 products including formic acid (HCOOH), [4] carbon monoxide (CO), [5] methane (CH 4 ), [6] ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), [7] methylglyoxal (C 3 H 4 O 2 ), [8] acetaldehyde, [9] and alcohols [10] . Among them, CO is one of the most potential products due to the transfer of only two electrons, which leads to higher energy conversion efficiency compared to other products with more electron transfer [11] .…”

“…[3] So far, significant efforts have been made to reduce CO 2 to C 1 À C 3 products including formic acid (HCOOH), [4] carbon monoxide (CO), [5] methane (CH 4 ), [6] ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), [7] methylglyoxal (C 3 H 4 O 2 ), [8] acetaldehyde, [9] and alcohols. [10] Among them, CO is one of the most potential products due to the transfer of only two electrons, which leads to higher energy conversion efficiency compared to other products with more electron transfer. [11] More importantly, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) usually occurs together with the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 , CO, and H 2 , which are the main components of syngas, can be effectively synthesized into liquid hydrocarbons via the Fischer-Tropsch processes.…”