Assessing the intrinsic merits of metallic and carbon-based aerogel electrocatalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction

Abstract

Aerogels have the potential to serve as suitable candidates for the development of electrocatalysts due to their ability to include conductive or catalytically active components. They possess a unique combination of features derived from their nanocomponents, such as electrocatalytic activity and electrical conductivity, as well as specific aerogel properties, including a substantial surface area that enables a greater number of reactive sites, hierarchical porosity that facilitates mass transfer, and the capacity to sustain their own structure. This study starts by providing the design principles of metal/carbon aerogel electrocatalysts and a brief and concise assessment of the preparation techniques for aerogel electrocatalysts. Subsequently, it discusses the interrelationships among key structural parameters of aerogel materials for the electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). In contrast to the previous review, we provided a detailed state-of-the-art review of metallic- and carbon-based aerogel electrocatalysts for the CO₂RR. This study also provided insights into computational aspects of aerogel electrocatalysts and techno-economic assessment for CO₂RR electrolysis. The strengths and weaknesses in this domain were presented alongside the corresponding prospects for CO₂ electroreduction reactions. This current study is anticipated to generate considerable interest among researchers in the pursuit of designing and advancing functional aerogel-based materials for electrocatalytic reduction reactions.