Nano-designed semiconductors for electro- and photoelectro-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide

Abstract

Development of novel catalysts with high efficiency for CO₂ conversion is of great research interest, because of the climate hazards caused by the gradual increase in CO₂ concentration. Among various types of catalysts, semiconductors have been widely used as effective candidates for both electro- and photoelectro-CO₂ conversion. Very recently, with the emerging nanotechnology and advanced characterization techniques, tremendous achievements have been made in highly efficient and clean CO₂ conversion based on semiconductor catalysts. This review gives a systematic overview of this field, including the rational design of semiconductor catalysts for electro- and photoelectro-chemical CO₂ conversion. Recent advances in the development of mechanism understandings on reaction pathways of CO₂ and the feasibility for industrial production are discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and future perspectives of electro- and photoelectro-catalytic CO₂ conversion are outlined.