Atomic-level engineering of two-dimensional electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the excessive consumption of fossil fuels has exhibited a huge threat to the planet's ecosystem. Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction into value-added chemicals has been regarded as a promising strategy in CO₂ utilization and needs the development of advanced electrocatalysts for lowering the activation energy and enhancing selectivity in CO₂ reduction. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, benefiting from their unique geometrical structures, have been extensively studied in the electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). In this review, we systematically overview atomic-level engineering strategies in 2D electrocatalysts for the CO₂RR, including thickness control, elemental doping, vacancy engineering, heterostructure construction, and single-atom loading. Meanwhile, we analyze the relationship between structures and activity in electrocatalysis, and present the future challenges and opportunities in the electrocatalytic CO₂RR, and we hope that this review will offer helpful guidance for developing electrocatalysts for the CO₂RR.