Microenvironment Manipulation Strategies for Acidic CO2 Electrolysis

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR) has gained significant attention due to its potential to reduce carbon emissions and produce valuable fuels and chemicals. CO₂RR is typically carried out in neutral or alkaline conditions, while challenges such as the carbon crossover and salt precipitate can hinder the practical application. Conducting CO₂RR in acidic media presents a promising method to address these issues, although it faces the problem of low efficiency and poor catalysis stability. Regulating the interface/surface microenvironment near the catalysts is crucial to minimize the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction and enhance CO₂RR activity and long-term stability. This review outlines recent advancements in acidic CO₂RR, emphasizing various microenvironment engineering strategies for optimizing the CO₂RR kinetics including electrolyte composition manipulation, catalyst design, electrode modification and cell configuration optimization. Additionally, the review addresses challenges into developing practical and cost-effective CO₂RR systems.