Status and challenges for CO₂ electroreduction to CH₄: advanced catalysts and enhanced strategies

Sustainable energy-powered carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction into methane (CH4) under ambient conditions holds great promise for achieving carbon neutrality and mitigating environmental pollution. Despite the significant advancements in this field, the unsatisfactory selectivity and stability remain the major obstacles to its large-scale applications. With this background, we present a comprehensive summary of recent progress and future opportunities of CO2 electroreduction into CH4. Firstly, we delve into the elucidation of the reaction mechanism involved in CO2 electroreduction into CH4. A thorough understanding of the individual steps within this process is paramount for designing electrocatalysts and improving selectivity and efficiency. In particular, the development of advanced electrocatalysts (such as copper-based materials, carbon-based materials and other materials) for CO2 electroreduction into CH4 is elaborated. Meanwhile, a special focus has been placed on the enhanced strategies, including coordination environment manipulation, element doping, surface modification, and morphology engineering, for CO2 electroreduction into CH4. Finally, the future challenges of CO2 electroreduction into CH4 are proposed. The review aims to serves as a guiding framework for systematic exploration and optimization of electrocatalysts, thus fostering the development and advancement of CO2 electroreduction into CH4.