Surface Modification Strategies for Copper-Based Catalysts in Selective CO2 Electroreduction to Multicarbon Products

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (ECRR) holds great promise for enabling an artificial carbon cycle, offering potential solutions to both the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Leveraging renewable energy to power the ECRR can enable the conversion of renewable electricity into chemical energy, yielding economically valuable carbon-based products. Among these, the selective reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to multicarbon (C 2+ ) products, which possess higher value and energy density, is particularly desirable. However, achieving both high selectivity and stability of this process remains a critical challenge, necessitating the development of advanced catalyst designs. This Perspective delves into the role of surface modification strategies in enhancing the selectivity and stability of copper-based catalysts, focusing on how these modifications regulate electronic structure, interface microenvironment, and binding energies of intermediates. By providing a comprehensive understanding of these catalytic principles, this review aims to guide the rational design of next-generation copper-based catalysts for efficient CO 2 reduction into C 2+ products.