Recent advances in low-temperature electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide

Since the onset of the industrial revolution, fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy generation, and the continued exploitation of fossil fuels has led to an increase in the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. A lot of research currently focuses much on decreasing dependence on fossil fuels by replacing them with green energy. However, this technique poses a number of challenges, such as the need for improved infrastructure and technology and the high market penetration of renewable energy technologies. Capturing and converting carbon dioxide using electrochemical approaches can help to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and create a positive future for the transformation of carbon dioxide into a number of value-added products. The conversion of carbon dioxide via electrochemical approach is a major challenge, and consideration must be given to the development and production of low-cost, stable, and highly efficient electrocatalysts. Hence, this review presents an overview of the current developments in the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide. In addition, this study discusses the current progress of electrocatalysts, in particular, the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst, which has a high level of activity and selectivity of low overpotential preferred products. The overview of the mechanisms and kinetics of the carbon dioxide reduction using the computational method are also addressed.