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Effective water management is crucial for the optimal operation of low‐temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Excessive liquid water production can cause flooding in the gas diffusion electrodes and flow channels, limiting mass transfer and reducing PEMFC performance. To tackle this issue, a nature‐inspired chemical engineering (NICE) approach has been adopted that takes cues from the integument structure of desert‐dwelling lizards for passive water transport. By incorporating engraved, capillary microchannels into conventional flow fields, PEMFC performance improves significantly, including a 15% increase in maximum power density for a 25 cm2 cell and 13% for a 100 cm2 cell. Electro‐thermal maps of the lizard‐inspired flow field demonstrate a more uniform spatial distribution of current density and temperature than the conventional design. Neutron radiography provides evidence that capillary microchannels in the lizard‐inspired flow field facilitate the efficient transport and removal of generated liquid water, thereby preventing blockages in the reactant channels. These findings present a universally applicable and highly efficient water management strategy for PEMFCs, with the potential for widespread practical implementation for other electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a promising approach to maintain a carbon cycle balance and produce value‐added chemicals. However, CO2RR technology is far from mature, since the conventional CO2RR electrocatalysts suffer from low activity (leading to currents <10 mA cm−2 in an H‐cell), stability (<120 h), and selectivity. Hence, they cannot meet the requirements for commercial applications (>200 mA cm−2, >8000 h, >90 % selectivity). Significant improvements are possible by taking inspiration from nature, considering biological organisms that efficiently catalyze the CO2 to various products. In this minireview, we present recent examples of enzyme‐inspired and enzyme‐mimicking CO2RR electrocatalysts enabling the production of C1 products with high faradaic efficiency (FE). At present, these designs do not typically follow a methodical approach, but rather focus on isolated features of biological systems. To achieve disruptive change, we advocate a systematic design methodology that leverages fundamental mechanisms associated with desired properties in nature and adapts them to the context of engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic reduction reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) has gained significant attention as a promising approach to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and generate valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the practical application of CO2RR has been hindered by the lack of efficient and selective electrocatalysts, particularly to produce multi‐carbon (C2+) products. Nature serves as an ideal source of inspiration for the development of CO2RR electrocatalysts, as biological organisms can efficiently catalyze the same reaction and possess robust structures that are inherently scaling. In this review, recent advances in the nature‐inspired design of electrocatalysts for CO2RR to C2+ products are summarized and categorized based on their inspiration source, including the coordination sphere of metalloenzymes and the cascade reactions within the enzyme, as well as the local environment. The importance of understanding the fundamental mechanisms and the different contexts between nature and technological application in the design process is highlighted, with the aim to improve the nature‐inspired design of electrocatalysts for CO2RR to C2+ products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article "Nature-Inspired Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction to C2+ Products," the authors explore how the electroreduction of CO2 can be improved by drawing inspiration from nature. They discuss various factors that can enhance the selective electroreduction of CO2 to valuable products with two carbon atoms or more, such as metalloenzymes, cascade reactions, superhydrophobicity, and air-bubble collecting spiders. However, the authors emphasize the need for a systematic nature-inspired solution methodology rather than simply copying nature in order to achieve higher yields and stability. [Extracted from the article]