Recent Progress on Nickel Phthalocyanine Based Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction

Abstract

The electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to high-value fuels by renewable electricity is a sustainable strategy, which can substitute fossil fuels and circumvent climate changes induced by elevated CO₂ emission levels, making the rational design of versatile electrocatalysts highly desirable. Among all the electrocatalytic materials used in CO₂ reduction reaction, nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) based electrocatalysts have attracted considerable attention recently because of their high CO selectivity and catalytic activity. Herein we review the latest advances in the CO₂ electroreduction to CO catalyzed by immobilized NiPc and its derivatives on diverse surfaces. Specific strategies, structure-performance relationship and CO₂-to-CO reaction mechanism of these NiPc-based electrocatalysts are analyzed. Future opportunities and challenges for this series of powerful heterogeneous electrocatalysts are also highlighted.