A minireview on electrochemical CO2 conversion based on carbonate/bicarbonate media

Direct electrochemical CO₂ conversion in carbonate/bicarbonate based CO₂ capture media has emerged as a promising technology for integrating carbon capture and CO₂ electroreduction processes in recent years, garnering significant attention from researchers owing to its high energy efficiency and carbon efficiency. For a holistic understanding of the development status of this field, this minireview summarizes a series of studies on the mechanism of carbonate/bicarbonate electrolyzers. Detailed mechanisms of the electrochemical conversion of carbonate/bicarbonate, the evolution of electrolyzers, and factors influencing the performance of electrolyzers are introduced. A summary of carbonate/bicarbonate electrolyzers' performance is also provided. Representative systems and materials for regulating the selectivity towards various products (e.g., CO, formate, methane, ethylene, and ethanol) and the cell voltage are highlighted. Furthermore, the challenges and future opportunities in this research area are also discussed.