Precise Construction of Cu‐Based Catalysts using Surface Molecular Modifiers for Electroreduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Multi‐Carbon Products
Tingting Zhang, Jing He, Xu Xiang
Abstract
Abstract Converting CO 2 into valuable chemicals has been intensively explored in recent years. Benefited from the substantial cost reduction of renewable electricity, the electrochemical methods have been emerging as a potential means for CO 2 capture and conversion. Recently, molecular tuning has been recognized as a powerful technique to modify catalyst's surface and verified effective in improving CO 2 RR performance. However, there are few comprehensive and insightful reviews on molecularly modified Cu‐based catalysts to precisely modulate the activity and selectivity of C 2+ products in CO 2 reduction. Herein, the development of CO 2 RR plausible reaction mechanisms is first introduced. The process and reaction pathways of the carbon‐carbon coupling are briefly discussed. Four main aspects of the molecular tuning strategy of the CO 2 RR are described as the first coordination layer, second coordination layer, outer layer, and confined effects. The understanding of the improved C 2+ performance is demonstrated for molecularly modified Cu‐based catalysts. The challenges and perspectives in this field are addressed to further inspire the disclosure of the fundamental understanding in CO 2 RR, the system optimization, advanced in situ and operando techniques, and integration of CO 2 capture and conversion technology with high activity and selectivity for durable applications.