Innovative strategies toward challenges in PV-powered electrochemical CO2 reduction

The solar energy-driven electrochemical CO2 reduction to value-added fuels or chemicals is considered as an attractive path to store renewable energy in the form of chemical energy to close the carbon cycle. However, CO2 reduction suffers from a number of challenges including slow reaction rates, low selectivity, and low energy conversion efficiency. Recently, innovative strategies have been developed to mitigate this challenges. Especially the development of flow cell reactors with a gas diffusion electrode, ionic liquid electrolytes, and new electrocatalysts have dramatically improved the reaction rates and selectivity to desired products. In this perspective, we highlight the key recent developments and challenges in PV-powered electrochemical CO2 reduction and propose effective strategies to improve the reaction kinetics, to minimize the electrical energy losses, and to tune the selectivity of the catalysts for desired products, and then suggest future direction of research and development. (C) 2021 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.