A Perspective on Electrochemical Point Source Utilization of CO2 and Other Flue Gas Components to Value Added Chemicals

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (eCO₂RR) has been explored extensively for mitigation of noxious CO₂ gas generating C₁ and C₂₊ hydrocarbons and oxygenates as value-added fuels and chemicals with remarkable selectivity. The source of CO₂ being a pure CO₂ feed, it does not fully satisfy the real-time digestion of industrial exhausts. Besides the detrimental effect of noxious gas mixture leading to global warming, there is a huge capital investment in purifying the flue gas mixtures from industries. The presence of other impurity gases affects the eCO₂RR mechanism and its activity and selectivity toward C₂₊ products dwindle drastically. Impurities like NO_x, SO_x, O₂, N₂, and halide ions present in flue gas mixture reduce the conversion and selectivity of eCO₂RR significantly. Instead of wiping out these impurities via separation processes, new strategies from material chemistry and electrochemistry can open new avenues for turning foes to friends! In this perspective, the co-electroreduction will vividly discussed and supporting role of different heteroatom-containing impurity gases with CO₂, generating highly stable C─N, C─S, C─X bonds, and highlight the existing limitations and providing probable solutions for attaining further success in this field and translating this to industrial exhaust streams.