Authors
Xuhua Zhao, Weizhou Wang, Mengqian Zhang, Haiwen Zhang, Hongdong Li, Lei Wang
Published in
Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany). Pages e74512. Jul 09, 2026. Epub Jul 09, 2026.
Abstract
Renewable electricity-driven electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) presents a promising route for producing value-added chemicals, enhancing energy storage, and completing the artificial carbon cycle. Although alkaline and neutral electrolytes dominate current electrolysis systems, inevitable carbonate formation and low CO2 utilization efficiency limit their commercial viability. In contrast, CO2RR in acidic electrolytes offers distinct advantages in overcoming CO2 mass transport limitations and energy efficiency bottlenecks by avoiding carbonation side reactions and preventing solid carbonate formation. However, acidic CO2RR faces several challenges, including competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), CO2 solubility limitations, catalyst corrosion and stability issues, and challenges in controlling product selectivity, all of which hinder industrial implementation. This review begins by analyzing the catalytic mechanisms underlying CO2RR pathways, laying the foundation for designing acidic CO2RR catalysts. An in-depth analysis of the key factors limiting the use of acidic electrolytes is subsequently presented. We systematically summarize recent advances in achieving efficient CO2RR in acidic media, including interfacial microenvironment engineering, catalyst design, and electrolyzer strategy optimization. Finally, this review outlines future directions for acidic CO2 electrolysis, including the development of corrosion-resistant membrane electrode assemblies to advance this technology from the laboratory to industrial scale.
PMID:
42424633
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Jul 2026.
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