Recent Advances in Engineered MoS2-Based Nanomaterials for CO2 Electro-Reduction to CO and Beyond

The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into value-added compounds is an emerging climate-change mitigation technique. Among various approaches, electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECO₂R) driven by renewable energy sources is considered one of the most viable methods for CO₂ reduction. Thus, developing efficient, cost-effective electrocatalysts that enhance reaction kinetics is vital for advancing ECO₂R and enabling large-scale implementation. During the past few years, among the several transition metal dichalcogenides, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has attracted much interest in the field of electrocatalysis owing to its two-dimensional (2D) structure and high density of active sites, which could lead to the development of several high-performance ECO₂R catalysts. This review presents the development and design of MoS₂-based nanomaterials tailored for electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECO₂R), exploring the relationship between engineering strategies, catalytic performance, CO₂ conversion efficiency, and reaction pathways, while also highlighting controlled synthesis methods, recent advances in catalyst design for active site stabilization, and the influence of electrolytes on ECO₂R performance. It also underscores the significant challenges that need to be overcome for the real-world implementation of MoS₂-based nanomaterials in ECO₂R to produce value-added chemicals, emphasizing the need for further research and development in this area.