CO electroreduction: What can we learn from its parent reaction, CO2 electroreduction?

The CO electroreduction reaction (CORR) represents an important piece of the decarbonization puzzle and is heavily inspired by research on the CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR). Compared to its parent reaction, CORR circumvents the (bi)carbonate issue that plagues CO2RR, potentially enabling greater stability and selectivity toward C2+ products, particularly oxygenates. Despite its unique potential, CORR still suffers from unsatisfactory performance. In this perspective article, we aim to provide a concise and informative overview of CORR and its close connection with CO2RR. We start by briefly presenting the two reactions’ similarities and differences, then discussing several catalyst design strategies. This is followed by highlights of the latest results on device integration and engineering. Finally, we offer our thoughts about possible future research opportunities that could render this technology a practical reality.