An industrial perspective on catalysts for low-temperature CO2 electrolysis

Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to useful products at temperatures below 100 °C is nearing the commercial scale. Pilot units for CO2 conversion to CO are already being tested. Units to convert CO2 to formic acid are projected to reach pilot scale in the next year. Further, several investigators are starting to observe industrially relevant rates of the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to ethanol and ethylene, with the hydrogen needed coming from water. In each case, Faradaic efficiencies of 80% or more and current densities above 200 mA cm−2 can be reproducibly achieved. Here we describe the key advances in nanocatalysts that lead to the impressive performance, indicate where additional work is needed and provide benchmarks that others can use to compare their results.