Recent Progress in Electrocatalytic Methanation of CO₂ at Ambient Conditions

Abstract

Electrochemical CO2 reduction under ambient conditions is a promising pathway for conversion of CO2 into value‐added products. In recent years, great achievements have been obtained in the understanding the mechanism and development of efficient and selective catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction. However, the electrochemical CO2 reduction is still far from practical applications. Based on the gap between current research and practical applications, the state‐of‐the‐art of the theoretical and experiment investigations on different electrocatalysts for the electrocatalysis of CO2 to CH4 is systematically and constructively reviewed. First of all, strategies for enhancing the catalytic activity and selectivity of electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CH4 are also examined in this review. The modulated strategies mainly involve the following aspects: i) tuning the applied potentials, ii) morphology engineering, iii) crystallographic facets engineering, iv) defect engineering, v) alloying. Furthermore, the influence of the electrolyte on the activity and selectivity for electrocatalysis of CO2 to CH4 is also reviewed. This review will build a systematic understanding in the electrochemical CO2 reduction to CH4 and may help to provide new insight for designing and optimizing the catalysts and/or electrolyte.

Asymmetric Oxo‐Bridged ZnPb Bimetallic Electrocatalysis Boosting CO2‐to‐HCOOH Reduction

“…The decrease in FE HCOOH could be attributed to the specific design of the flow reactor in which the KHCO 3 electrolyte is supplied as the main reactant with a low concentration of the dissolved CO 2 , HCO 3 – , and CO 3 2– species, in addition, the local concentrations of H + donors are still available and competitive around the electrocatalyst surface resulting in a reduction of the Faradic efficiency of formic acid. [ 35 , 36 ] This finding brings new prospects for realizing high CO 2 ‐to‐HCOO – ‐current densities on effective Zn(Pb) bimetallic electrocatalyst.…”

Electrocatalysis enabled transformation of earth-abundant water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide for a sustainable future

“…Among these technologies, electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (CRR) has attracted greater attention by virtue of its mild operating conditions and great potential to scale up. [340][341][342][343] Although significant progress is experienced in this field, there are still major challenges, which hinder the understanding of CRR. 344 Pioneering studies on CRR involving different metals was initiated by Hori and co-workers more than thirty years ago.…”

Divergent Paths, Same Goal: A Pair‐Electrosynthesis Tactic for Cost‐Efficient and Exclusive Formate Production by Metal–Organic‐Framework‐Derived 2D Electrocatalysts

“…Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is an effective way to produce formic acid/formate, which is appealing for tackling the complications related to the rising CO 2 levels and facilitating a sustainable closed carbon cycle at the same time. [ 3–7 ] Hori et al. reported that metal electrodes such as Bi, Sn, Pb, Hg, and In, can prompt efficiently electroreduction of CO 2 to formate.…”