Metal chalcogenide-associated catalysts enabling CO2 electroreduction to produce low-carbon fuels for energy storage and emission reduction: catalyst structure, morphology, performance, and mechanism

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (ERCO₂) to low-carbon fuels/chemicals can simultaneously realize storage of electrical energy in the form of chemicals and alleviate environmental deterioration. However, the process needs highly active, stable, and selective catalysts to achieve its practical application. Among the different catalysts developed, some novel metal chalcogenide-associated materials have been explored as catalysts or precursors for ERCO₂ in very recent years. In this paper, the recent advances in metal chalcogenide-associated materials for ERCO₂ catalysis are reviewed in terms of their synthesis, characterization, functional mechanisms, and catalytic performance/optimization. Several technical challenges are analyzed and the corresponding strategies to overcome the challenges are also proposed for further research and development of such kinds of advanced materials toward practical applications for electrochemical energy storage and conversion.