Engineering Catalyst–Electrolyte Microenvironments to Optimize the Activity and Selectivity for the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 on Cu and Ag

ConspectusThe electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2R) driven by renewably generated electricity (e.g., solar and wind) offers a promising means for reusing the CO2 released during the production of cement, steel, and aluminum as well as the production of ammonia and methanol. If CO2 could be removed from the atmosphere at acceptable costs (i.e., 90%) selectivity to C2+ products over Cu in an aqueous electrolyte. This part of the Account is then extended to consider the difference in the catalyst–nanoparticle microenvironment, present in the catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), with respect to that of a planar electrode immersed in an aqueous electrolyte.