UC Berkeley

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 remains an appealing option for storing renewable energy in a chemical form. In this review, we assess progress in designing catalysts that convert CO2 to high energy density products. We explain how reaction data can be reported to reflect the intrinsic properties of the catalyst. This analysis shows that limited advances have been made in improving the performance of Cu. We suggest that opportunities remain using bimetallic catalysts that are resistant to dealloying. While aqueous systems are instrumental to developing our understanding of this chemistry, gas-fed systems that operate at high current densities must be developed. Although obstacles remain for practical application of CO2 reduction, advances in fundamental understanding made over the years give reason for optimism.