Advancing CO2 conversion: The role of multi-metallic catalysts in CO2 electroreduction

Abstract

The rising global energy demand has accelerated fossil fuel consumption, leading to an increase in CO2 emissions, the primary cause of the greenhouse effect. CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) offers a green, sustainable solution to convert CO2 into valuable chemicals and energy, which is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. However, CO2RR faces significant hurdles, including its complex reaction pathways, low selectivity (due to CO2's stability and diverse products), competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at high overpotentials, and challenges with catalyst stability and mass transport. To address these issues, multi-metallic catalysts consist of two or more metal components, have emerged as a highly promising strategy. Compared to monometallic catalysts, they offer enhanced selectivity through unique electronic regulation, optimized electronic structures, increased active sites, and reduced reliance on noble metals. This review summarizes recent advancements in multi-metallic catalysts, including alloy and dual-atom catalysts, and discusses microenvironment optimization strategies and the role of active sites. It also outlines future directions for catalyst development, aiming to guide research in this critical field.