Rational design of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction for a zero-carbon network

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction has attracted much attention for its potential application in CO2 mitigation and fuel production. During the past two decades, the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 has made considerable progress, and it has become a promising tool to answer environmental problems. However, most research into electrocatalytic CO2 reduction focuses on catalysts at the material level instead of evaluating the performance of the entire system for practical applications, which is insufficient to promote the sound development. This review emphasizes on how to rationally design an electrocatalytic CO2 reduction system. We initially demonstrate the necessity of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and establish its economic analysis, and at the same time provide an overview of representative breakthroughs in this field. Then, we combine with advanced characterization technologies to deeply understand the reaction pathways of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction at the molecular level. Furthermore, we point out how theoretical guidelines enable the rational design of high-throughput catalysts and the synergistic promotion of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction performance by optimizing the electrocatalytic interface and the reactor. Finally, we customize impartial recommendations and criteria for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to promote its healthy development. We hope to stimulate high-quality research and may see the future application of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to solve sustainable energy and environmental problems.