Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) represents a highly promising carbon-negative technology, capable of mitigating atmospheric CO2 concentrations while simultaneously generating value-added chemicals. Rare earth (RE) elements have been extensively used to fabricate advanced electrocatalysts for enhancing the performance of CO2RR due to their unique 4f electron configurations and redox characteristics. However, critical challenges of achieving precise modulation on CO2 selectivity with RE elements and their mechanisms are still being pursued. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in RE-based electrocatalysts for selective conversion of CO2 towards each C1 (CO, HCOOH/HCOO− and CH4) or C2+ (C2H4, C2H5OH) products, and aims to construct the relationship between the RE-mediated structure and electrocatalytic performance. Primarily, the fundamental aspects of CO2RR selectivity and RE characteristics are established. Subsequently, selective modulation mechanisms for specific CO2RR product and corresponding RE-based catalysts are proposed and classified. We elucidate the synergistic modulation on CO2 reduction pathway by RE elements unique physicochemical properties (including 4f-electron properties, larger atomic radius, oxygen affinity, and high-valence state) in critical reaction metrics: CO2 activation, *CO adsorption energy, C–C coupling kinetics, electron/mass transport efficiency and long-term catalytic stability. Building on this foundation, atomic-level control over Cu/RE ratio governs the selective generation of C1 versus C2+ products by modulating reaction pathways, while the intrinsic high-valence stability of RE effectively enhances catalytic durability. Finally, we outline the current challenges and future research directions for RE-mediated CO2RR systems. This review will offer rational principles and deeper understanding for engineering RE-based electrocatalysts toward desired chemicals under industrial-scale CO2RR.
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