Metal-based electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to formic acid/formate

Abstract

The rapid increase of CO₂ content in the atmosphere has caused serious environmental concern. To effectively alleviate the issue, it is of great significance to use electrocatalytic technology to convert CO₂ into high value-added energy materials. In this minireview, we present the recent progress in the development of metal-based electrocatalysts for the electrocatalysis of CO₂ to formic acid/formate. Firstly, we briefly study the possible reaction pathways and mechanisms of electrochemical reduction of CO₂. Secondly, the emerging development of different types of metal-based electrocatalysts (homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous catalysts) as high-performance catalysts is reviewed for improving process efficiency and productivity. Based on the insights, we summarize the current challenges and the future research directions of metal-based materials for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂.