Organic molecules involved in Cu-based electrocatalysts for selective CO2 reduction to C2+ products

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising process to mitigate the environmental issues caused by CO2, as well as to produce valuable multicarbon (C2+) products. Significant progresses have been made to explore highly efficient Cu-based electrocatalysts for CO2RR in recent years. Adding organic molecules into electrocatalytic systems can tune the CO2 interaction with the electrocatalysts for CO2RR, therefore, the final C2+ products, which are not solely achieved by inorganic modification. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress of the organic molecules participation in CO2 electroreduction to C2+ products on Cu-based electrocatalysts. The applied organic molecules are reviewed based on the heteroatoms (N and S), with the emphasis on their roles in activity and selectivity toward C2+ products. A perspective on the application of organic molecules for efficient and selective CO2RR has been provided.