Optimization strategies for enhancing the stability of Cu-based catalysts

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (ECO₂RR) serves as a promising approach for converting CO₂ into energy-dense fuels and high-value chemicals, garnering substantial interest across academic and industrial sectors. Copper (Cu)-based electrocatalysts are widely acknowledged as highly effective for ECO₂RR, primarily due to their optimal adsorption energy for ∗CO. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain to be addressed in transitioning Cu-based catalysts from research settings to industrial applications, including the low stability and unavoidable side reactions. This article aims to i) systematically examine the deactivation mechanisms of Cu-based catalysts, including changes in valence states, surface poisoning, and restructuring (agglomeration, dissolution, Ostwald ripening); ii) provide a timely overview of cutting-edge strategies to enhance the stability of Cu-based catalysts, such as ligand effects, heteroatom doping, support optimization, size effect, and restructuring; iii) highlight critical areas and prospective development directions that warrant further exploration to expedite the industrial adoption of Cu-based catalysts in ECO₂RR.