Piezocatalysis: a promising alternative route for CO₂ reduction

Catalytically reducing CO2 offers an effective way to produce energy-rich fuels and high-value chemicals while simultaneously sequestrating CO2 from the environment. However, driving the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is challenging, because the linear molecular structure of CO2 is chemically inert with a low electron affinity. Thermal, light, and electrochemical energy are typically utilized to drive the CO2RR. One alternative route to reduce CO2 is via piezocatalysis. Piezocatalysis exploits the polarization of a material upon applying mechanical stress which enables spatial separation of the mechanically produced charge carriers to inhibit recombination. A piezocatalyst is uniquely suited to drive the CO2RR even in the dark without external heating and a sacrificial compound. Although the piezocatalytic CO2RR is just beginning to be explored, it is foreseen to become one of the most important scenarios for CO2 utilization. In this perspective, we discuss prospects and challenges of the piezocatalytic CO2RR. The received hypotheses on the piezocatalysis mechanism are critically discussed. Guidelines to obtain a potentially efficient piezocatalyst are outlined. We expect our contribution to inspire readers to get involved in this promising new area of research and bring it in the right direction.