New trends in the development of heterogeneous catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction.

The electrochemical conversion of CO 2 into energy-rich fuels and chemicals has gained significant interest as a potential strategy for simultaneously mitigating increasing global CO 2 concentration and effectively storing intermittent renewable energy from sources such as solar and wind. This process recycles CO 2 , permitting a carbon-neutral, closed-loop of fuel combustion and waste CO 2 reduction to help prevent a rising concentration of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. At the same time, intermittent electricity generation can be stored in an energy-dense, portable form in chemical bonds. However, the stability of CO 2 makes its conversion kinetically challenging, generally requiring a large overpotential, and thus the efficiency of electrochemical CO 2 reduction is strongly dependent on the activity and selectivity of the cathodic electrocatalyst. In this review, we discuss the current state-of-the-art of unconventional heterogeneous catalysts with a focus on activity and product selectivity, even if the CO 2 reduction reaction mechanism remains uncertain. Various emerging approaches to enhance the yield of specific products and the overall rate of reaction will also be addressed. Finally, prospects for the development of next-generation catalysts will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]