Process intensification strategies towards upgrading the CO2 electroreduction reaction to industrial level: from catalyst design to process coupling

The CO 2 electroreduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is one of the sustainable technology paths to achieve CO 2 utilization and carbon-negative reduction. However, there is still a large gap between the fundamental research on the CO 2 RR system and its practical applications. From the perspective of chemical process intensification, the CO 2 RR system needs to adopt a new technical way to eliminate that gap. In this review, we highlight recent advances in process intensification strategies for upgrading the CO 2 RR system to the industrial level, based on the rational construction of catalyst designs and coupled processes. We categorize this progress according to three aspects: feedstock process optimization, reaction process intensification, and product engineering. The review closes by summing up the remaining challenges and discussing the upcoming prospects for the CO 2 RR system. This paper thus outlines process intensification strategies ranging from catalyst design to process coupling to reshape the CO 2 RR system and guide its design and optimization in the future.