Design strategies and mechanism studies of CO2 electroreduction catalysts based on coordination chemistry

As a greenhouse gas, the increasing concentration of CO2 in atmosphere has resulted in a series of environmental problems. However, being the cheapest and most abundant nontoxic C1 source, CO2 has been taken as a promising feedstock for industrial production of high value-added products. Among many different strategies for CO2 conversion, electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 is regarded as one of the cleanest and most efficient approaches. During CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2ERR), various products could be formed by different catalysts at different potentials, on which the coordination between CO2, CO or other reduction intermediates and the catalyst takes great effect. Herein, this review summarizes the reaction mechanism of CO2ERR based on the principles of coordination chemistry, as well as the diverse properties of the electrocatalysts reported to date in detail, with the purpose of benefiting future research to rationally design electrocatalyst with high selectivity and activity. Furthermore, we offer some prospects and challenges on the future outlook for CO2ERR.