Tackling CO2 Loss in Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction by Advanced Material and Electrolyzer Design

Abstract Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction (ECO 2 R) has been considered as a promising approach to convert CO 2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. CO 2 loss in conventional alkaline electrolyzers has been recognized as a major obstacle that compromising the efficiency of the ECO 2 R system. This review firstly conducts an in‐depth assessment of the origin and influence of CO 2 loss. On this basis, this work summarizes electrolyzer configurations based on novel material and structure design that are capable of tackling CO 2 loss, including acidic electrolyzer, bipolar membrane (BPM) derived electrolyzer, cascade electrolyzer, liquid‐phase‐anode electrolyzer, and liquid‐fed electrolyzer. The design strategies and challenges of these carbon efficient electrolyzers have been deliberated in detail. By comparing and analyzing the advantages and limitations of various electrolyzer designs, this work aims to provide some guidelines for the development of efficient ECO 2 R technology toward large‐scale industrial application.