Mass Transfer Effect to Electrochemical Reduction of CO2: Electrode, Electrocatalyst and Electrolyte

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCO2RR) to value-added chemicals is considered as a promising strategy for CO2 conversion with economic and environmental benefits. Recently, investigations in eCO2RR to produce chemicals as energy or chemical industrial feedstock has received much attention. The eCO2RR generally occurs at the interface between electrode/electrocatalyst and electrolyte including charge transfer, phase transformation and mass transport. One of key problems in the electrochemical reaction is mass transfer limitation owing to the gaseous property of CO2 with low concentration on the surface of electrode/electrocatalyst. Several strategies were employed to improve mass transfer in the past years, including electrochemical reactors, electrodes, electrocatalysts and electrolytes, etc. which could low reaction barriers so adequately that reaction rates can be realized that are sufficient for eCO2RR. This article comprehensively reviewed development related to mass transfer study of CO2, including the mechanism of mass transfer of CO2, and main factors (electrodes, electrocatalysts and electrolytes) on two-phase or multi-phase interface during eCO2RR. The article is not aim at providing a comprehensive review of technical achievements towards eCO2RR technology, but rather to highlight electrode, catalyst, electrolyte, and other factors, which can understand the above components or factors’ effects toward mass transfer investigations, to decouple mass transfer limitations and improve the performance of electrochemical CO2 conversion. Furthermore, the challenges and perspectives for mass transfer to electrochemical eCO2RR are proposed.