Recent advances in understanding mechanisms for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) using solar electricity has the potential to become a sustainable method to generate chemical feedstock and fuels. Understanding the underlying reaction mechanisms and elucidating the pertinent reaction intermediates are key pre-requisites for designing catalysts with better functionality. This review summarises recent works (published between 2015 and 2018) that have used theoretical modelling and electrochemical measurements, as well as operando spectroscopy, to provide new insights into the mechanistic pathways that transpire during the electroreduction of CO2.