Beyond conventional CO2 electroreduction: emerging paradigms for practical carbon conversion

Abstract

To realize the aim of carbon neutrality, electrochemical CO₂ reduction (eCO₂RR) must bridge the gap between fundamental laboratory research and commercial viability. While previous literature has predominantly focused on incremental catalyst optimization, it is becoming increasingly clear that conventional systems optimized for neutral pH and pure CO₂ feeds face significant barriers to industrial deployment, primarily due to poor carbon efficiency, high regeneration costs, and low energy efficiency. Exploring catalyst materials tailored to various microenvironments also requires substantial resources. To address this critical lab-to-industry transition, this review highlights four transformative strategies designed to overcome these commercialization bottlenecks. First, eCO₂RR in acidic conditions is discussed as a robust solution to suppress carbonate formation and maximize carbon utilization efficiency. Second, systems engineered for dilute CO₂ feeds are analyzed, enabling the direct valorization of low-concentration flue gas from industrial point sources. Third, plasmonic-enhanced CO₂ reduction technologies are introduced that leverage light–matter interactions to not only augment the energy efficiency of electrolyzers but also precisely modulate product selectivity. Finally, we explore machine learning as a cost-effective tool to circumvent the prohibitive expenses of exhaustive experimental screening, accelerating the discovery of optimal catalytic materials across diverse reaction conditions. We propose that synergizing these advanced strategies offers a comprehensive blueprint for evolving CO₂ electrolysis into a sustainable, scalable industrial solution.