Room-temperature Electrochemical C1-to-fuel Conversion: Perspectives from Material Engineering and Device Design

Abstract

The continuous increase of greenhouse gases (CO₂ or CH₄) in the atmosphere has been imposing an imminent threat for global climate change and environmental hazards. Electrochemical one-carbon (C1) molecule conversion to value-added fuels and chemicals provides a green and efficient approach to mitigate fossil energy shortages and storing supernumerary renewable electricity in fuels, thereby reducing the global carbon footprint. Benefited from the substantial cost reduction of clean electricity, the room-temperature electrolysis has been emerging as a competitive strategy for C1 molecule unitization. In this review, we mainly focus on the state-of-the-art technologies involving electrocatalysts and devices, and introduce the representative works about room-temperature C1 molecule electrolysis in recent years, which will serve as a timely reference for catalyst design and device fabrication for efficient and practical conversion of C1 molecules. The challenges and perspectives are also discussed to suggest possible research directions toward fuel production from C1 molecules by room-temperature electrolysis in the future.