A review of non‐noble metal‐based electrocatalysts for CO 2 electroreduction

Abstract The excessive emission of CO 2 has caused many environmental issues and is severely threatening the eco‐system. CO 2 electroreduction reaction (CO 2 RR) that driven by sustainable power is an ideal route for realizing the net reduction of CO 2 and carbon recycle. Developing efficient electrocatalysts with low cost and high performance is critical for the wide applications of CO 2 RR electrolysis. Among the various explored CO 2 RR catalysts, non‐noble metal (NNM)‐based nanomaterials have drawn increasing attentions due to the remarkable performance and low cost. In this mini‐review, the recent advances of NNM‐based CO 2 RR catalysts are summarized, and the catalysts are classified based on their corresponding reduction products. The preparation strategies for engineering the electrocatalysts are introduced, and the relevant CO 2 RR mechanisms are discussed in detail. Finally, the current challenges in CO 2 RR research are presented, and some perspectives are proposed for the future development of CO 2 RR technology. This mini‐review introduces the recent advances and frontiers of NNM‐based CO 2 RR catalysts, which should shed light on the further exploration of efficient CO 2 RR electrocatalysts.