Recent Advances in Electrochemical, Photochemical, and Photoelectrochemical Reduction of CO2 to C2+ Products

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2023-04, Vol.19 (16), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Han, Gyeong Ho, Bang, Junbeom, Park, Gaeun, Choe, Seonghyun, Jang, Youn Jeong, Jang, Ho Won, Kim, Soo Young, Ahn, Sang Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: C2+ products; Carbon dioxide; Chemical reduction; CO2 reduction; Coupling (molecular); electrochemical; Hydrocarbons; Nanotechnology; photochemical; Photochemical reactions; photoelectrochemical
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205765

Environmental problems such as global warming are one of the most prominent global challenges. Researchers are investigating various methods for decreasing CO2 emissions. The CO2 reduction reaction via electrochemical, photochemical, and photoelectrochemical processes has been a popular research topic because the energy it requires can be sourced from renewable sources. The CO2 reduction reaction converts stable CO2 molecules into useful products such as CO, CH4, C2H4, and C2H5OH. To obtain economic benefits from these products, it is important to convert them into hydrocarbons above C2. Numerous investigations have demonstrated the uniqueness of the CC coupling reaction of Cu‐based catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into useful hydrocarbons above C2 for electrocatalysis. Herein, the principle of semiconductors for photocatalysis is briefly introduced, followed by a description of the obstacles for C2+ production. This review presents an overview of the mechanism of hydrocarbon formation above C2, along with advances in the improvement, direction, and comprehension of the CO2 reduction reaction via electrochemical, photochemical, and photoelectrochemical processes. This review offers a brief introduction about CO2 reduction methods utilizing renewable energy sources that are electrochemical, photochemical, and photoelectrochemical systems and focuses on strategies to overcome obstacles that prevent CC coupling and recent progress of CO2 reduction to C2+ products which are more beneficial and valuable than C1 products.