Advancing electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: key strategies for scaling up to industrial applications

Abstract

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction (eCO₂RR) to high value-added C₂₊ products offers a highly promising pathway toward carbon neutrality and sustainable energy storage. However, the limited activity of current catalysts and the suboptimal configuration of reaction systems hinder the achievement of high C₂₊ selectivity and long-term operational stability, falling short of industrial application requirements. In this review, we take a unique perspective to examine recent advances in the functional design of catalysts and the optimization of reactor systems. We highlight that rational catalyst design can enhance C₂₊ product selectivity, while optimization of reactor components can improve system stability. The integration of innovative technologies with system-level optimization holds great potential to advance the scalability and economic feasibility of eCO₂RR. This review bridges the gap between fundamental research and industrial application of eCO₂RR, offering critical insights to guide its development as a practical and scalable technology.