Criteria and cutting-edge catalysts for CO₂ electrochemical reduction at the industrial scale

Converting waste or hazardous chemicals into valuable products is a paramount consideration from economic, environmental, and sustainability standpoints. Diverse strategies are under exploration to convert CO₂ into valuable or fine chemicals, encompassing electrocatalysis, thermo- and photo-catalysis, and chemical fixation. Amid these avenues, the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) emerges as exceptionally promising, driven by its manifold advantages and the growing accessibility of renewable electricity sources. While CO₂RR has witnessed substantial advancements, most endeavors remain in the proof-of-concept phase, necessitating improved catalytic efficiency and stability to enable industrialization. Realizing the industrial viability of CO₂RR technology mandates meticulous consideration of a myriad of electrocatalyst-related factors. This review delves into critical industrial criteria and recent catalytic materials with the potential to drive CO₂ reduction at an industrial scale. These factors, akin to other catalytic processes, closely relate to catalytic activity, product selectivity, catalyst/system stability, and catalyst cost. In this context, we investigated the criteria that define electrocatalysts as industrially feasible, considering factors such as Faradaic efficiency, current density, energy efficiency, stability, overpotential, and the choice of catalyst materials. Furthermore, we highlight prime examples demonstrating high potential for this process and categorize them based on the reaction products. To offer a comprehensive perspective, this review also discusses the fundamental principles of CO₂RR, covering the physicochemical properties of CO₂, cell configurations, electrolyte compositions, and the role of electrocatalysts. We also address the economic significance of various CO₂RR products.