Utilization of carbon nanotube and graphene in electrochemical CO2 reduction

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (ERCO2) driven by renewable energy to produce low-carbon fuels and value-added chemicals has been well known as a way capable of simultaneously solving energy exhaustion and global warming issue. Catalysts play a vital role in low temperature ERCO2, and those well used are single metals, metal oxides and alloys. Due to the characteristics of nanometer size, low resistance, high surface area, chemical stability, special mechanical and electronic properties, some novel carbon nomaterials (e.g. carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene) show excellent properties in ERCO2 as catalysts or supports which can improve the electrochemical performance: activity, selectivity, and stability. Actually, they mostly act as support materials and little directly as catalysts. The specific surface area and the active sites of loaded catalysts can be increased, then the performance is significantly improved. In this work, we will make a review on the progress as to CNTs and graphene as catalysts and supports in ERCO2 in recent years and give the future prospects.