Heterogeneous electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide with transition metal complexes

Reducing the atmospheric CO₂ level is of a great interest these days, as it is negatively affecting our environment. Despite the large efforts invested in development of technologies for CO₂ fixation, there is still no large-scale, man-made solution to deal with it. A useful strategic solution is to retrieve CO₂ from the air and to reduce it into valuable products, to establish a closed carbon cycle. Reduction of CO₂ by electrochemical means seems to be the most practical and economical alternative, but there is still much to be done in terms of catalysts’ development, to enable energy-efficient and cost-effective technology at-scale. In this mini-review, we will focus on the progress that has been made in the area of first-row transition metals complexes as catalysts for CO₂ electro-reduction, mostly under conditions that are relevant for large scale applications.