State of Play of Critical Mineral-Based Catalysts for Electrochemical E-Refinery to Synthetic Fuels.

Abstract

The pursuit of decarbonization involves leveraging waste CO₂ for the production of valuable fuels and chemicals (e.g., ethanol, ethylene, and urea) through the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions (CO₂RR). The efficacy of this process heavily depends on electrocatalyst performance, which is generally reliant on high loading of critical minerals. However, the supply of these minerals is susceptible to shortage and disruption, prompting concerns regarding their usage, particularly in electrocatalysis, requiring swift innovations to mitigate the supply risks. The reliance on critical minerals in catalyst fabrication can be reduced by implementing design strategies that improve the available active sites, thereby increasing the mass activity. This review seeks to discuss and analyze potential strategies, challenges, and opportunities for improving catalyst activity in CO₂RR with a special attention to addressing the risks associated with critical mineral scarcity. By shedding light onto these aspects of critical mineral-based catalyst systems, this review aims to inspire the development of high-performance catalysts and facilitates the practical application of CO₂RR technology, whilst mitigating adverse economic, environmental, and community impacts.