Designing CO2 reduction electrode materials by morphology and interface engineering

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into value-added fuels and chemicals driven by renewable energy presents a potentially sustainable route to mitigate CO₂ emissions and alleviate the dependence on fossil fuels. While tailoring the electronic structure of active components to modulate their intrinsic reactivity could tune the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), their use is limited by the linear scaling relation of intermediates. Due to the high susceptibility of the CO₂RR to the local CO₂ concentration/pH and mass transportation of CO₂/intermediates/products near the gas–solid–liquid three-phase interface, engineering catalysts’ morphological and interfacial properties holds great promise to regulate the CO₂RR, which are irrelevant with linear scaling relation and possess high resistance to harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in tuning CO₂ reduction electrocatalysis via morphology and interface engineering. The fundamentals of the CO₂RR and design principles for electrode materials are presented firstly. Then, approaches to build an efficient three-phase interface, tune the surface wettability, and design a favorable morphology are summarized; the relationship between the properties of engineered catalysts and their CO₂RR performance is highlighted to reveal the activity-determining parameters and underlying catalytic mechanisms. Finally, challenges and opportunities are proposed to suggest the future design of advanced CO₂RR electrode materials.