Recent advances in electrocatalytic reduction of ambient CO₂ toward high-value feedstock

The effects of climate change have arisen due to greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, and the finite supply of fossil fuels will eventually be unable to support the needs of the petrochemical industry. Solutions to these two complex problems will have to be multipronged, but the industrial implementation of the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ can help with both issues. Importantly, the demand for multi-carbon feedstock offers immediate financial incentives, accelerating the search for solutions to the climate problem. However, the technology for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ is still in the process of being commercialised, and the use of ambient CO₂ is a prerequisite for widescale adoption. Here we discuss the progress in this area and the remaining barriers to realizing its potential.