Review of electrochemical carbon dioxide capture towards practical application

The global initiative to achieve net-zero emissions has spurred extensive efforts in carbon capture, utilization, and storage aimed at mitigating carbon emissions. Emerging electrochemical CO₂ capture (ECC) technologies offer the promise of low energy requirements, modular scalability, and ease of implementation, with the potential for direct integration with renewable energy sources. However, despite considerable research and claims of remarkable performance, the feasibility of ECC technologies for large-scale industrial applications remains uncertain. Herein, we analyze the fundamental scientific principles of four primary ECC systems, evaluate their operational strengths and limitations, and benchmark their performance based on our established evaluation metrics. We identify the challenges and opportunities for enhancing ECC technologies and establish detailed development strategies to navigate their transition from the lab research to real-world application.