Microenvironment engineering of Cu-based materials for electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction

Currently, copper (Cu) has received extensive attention from researchers as a single-metal catalyst for the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into high-value and high-energy-density products, such as hydrocarbons and alcohols. In this minireview, instead of focusing on Cu-based catalysts themselves in electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), we mainly elaborate on microenvironment engineering around electrocatalytic active center including the microenvironmental regulation strategies of Cu-based metals and their oxides, single-atom catalysts, heterogeneous metal-organic complexes, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Moreover, we specifically introduce the microenvironment factors that affect the CO₂RR performance of Cu-based catalysts. We hope that this review will give readers a comprehensive insight into the research status of microenvironment engineering on Cu-based materials for CO₂RR and provide help for conscious design and modification of catalysts in the future.