Copper-based electrocatalysts converting carbon dioxide to narrowly distributed products

• Summarize and categorize the material design strategies that effectively narrows the CO 2 reduction product on Cu-based catalysts. • The selectivity of Cu-based catalysts is determined by the absorption/desorption dynamics of the intermediates on the Cu surfaces/active sites. • Provide the evaluation on the characteristics and effectiveness of each of the strategies. • Propose the directions for future research endeavours on Cu-based catalysts. Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction to value-added chemicals offers a dual solution to environmental issues and energy related challenges. Copper (Cu) based catalysts stand out as the most promising candidates for converting CO 2 into deeply reduced products (multi-carbon or longer chain carbon compounds), yet the activity and selectivity are highly dependent on their atomic structure and the nature of the active sites. Significant progress has been made in advancing Cu-based electrocatalysts with enhanced selectivity. A multitude of strategies, such as facet engineering, defect/interface manipulation, oxidation state regulation, carbon matrix integration, single atom catalysts and tandem catalytic system, have demonstrated their efficacy in refining the product spectrum. This review delves into the rational design of Cu-based catalysts for target products by providing a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between material design and CO 2 reduction catalytic behaviors, moreover, the existing challenges and future research directions are discussed for the continued improvement of Cu-based catalysts