Designing bifunctional electrocatalysts for improving cell energy efficiency of electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction

<p indent="0mm">Electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (eCO₂RR) is increasingly recognized as one of the most attractive strategies for achieving carbon neutrality. Consequently, a plethora of research has been devoted to developing efficient catalysts for eCO₂RR. However, the anodic reaction, a crucial component of the electrolytic cell, is often overlooked. The cell energy efficiency and the value of the catalytic products depend fundamentally on the combined overpotentials of both the cathode and anode. Unfortunately, most reports on bifunctional catalysts for the eCO₂RR and anodic reaction show very low current densities, far from what is required for commercial applications. Recently, integrating oxidation and reduction sites into a catalyst has been proven to be a feasible strategy for improving cell energy efficiency of electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction. This article reviews some representative recent reports relevant to the above strategy and discusses potential opportunities for future research.