Prospects of CO 2 Utilization via Direct Heterogeneous Electrochemical Reduction

This Perspective highlights recent efforts and opportunities in the heterogeneous electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to help address the global issues of climate change and sustainable energy production. Recent research has shown that the electrochemical reduction of CO2 can produce a variety of organic compounds such as formic acid, carbon monoxide, methane, and ethylene with high current efficiency. These products can be used as feedstocks for chemical synthesis or converted into hydrocarbon fuels. This process is of interest (i) for the recycling of CO2 as an energy carrier, thereby reducing its accumulation in the atmosphere, (ii) for the production of renewable hydrocarbon fuels from CO2, water,…