Direct Electroreduction of Low-Concentration CO2: Progress and Perspective

The conversion of CO2 into carbon-based fuels and chemicals via the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers an attractive route to reducing the CO2 emission for carbon neutrality. Currently, high-purity CO2 gas has been widely used as the feedstock for most of the CO2RR studies, while CO2 sources with a typically low concentration impose the extra cost for CO2 capture and purification steps. The direct utilization of low-concentration CO2 for the CO2RR is a promising approach to substantially address this problem. In this Perspective, we first highlight the prominent advantages of direct electroreduction of low-concentration CO2. Then we focus on the summary of several important design strategies for CO2RR in diluted CO2 and gas impurities-containing CO2 atmosphere. Finally, we propose personal outlooks on future challenges and some opportunities for this fascinating research field.