Achieving integrated capture and reduction of CO2: A promising electrocatalyst

To realize the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, CO2 capture and utilization technology is becoming increasingly urgent. However, the low efficiency and complex processes limit its large-scale application. Among utilization technology of CO2, electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has attracted interest, attributing to the use of clean energy and the final product of value-added fuels. The construction of catalysts with integrated CO2 capture and reduction ability is expected to bridge the gap between CO2 capture and conversion, achieving the direct utilization of flue gas, reducing costs, and simplifying devices. Keeping this in mind, we give this review to introduce the problems of low-concentration CO2RR and the significance of coupled CO2 capture/conversion electrocatalysts in addressing the emission of industrial flue gas first. Then, the regulation strategies, including functional group modification, co-catalytic effect, and catalysts-impurities interaction, which affected the CO2 capture and electroreduction capacity towards catalysts were summarized and discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives about the design for linked CO2 capture/conversion processes were proposed. This review will provide new insight into the building of multifunctional catalysts for CO2 conversion.