Coupling Value-Added Anodic Reactions with Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction.

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction features a promising approach to realize carbon neutrality. However, its competitiveness is limited by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at anode, which consumes a large portion of energy. Coupling value-added anodic reactions with CO2 electroreduction has been emerging as a promising strategy in recent years to enhance the full-cell energy efficiency and produce valuable chemicals at both cathode and anode of the electrolyzer. In this review, we briefly summarize recent progresses on the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, and the economic feasibility of different CO2 electrolysis system is discussed. Then we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advances in the coupled electrolysis of CO2 and potential value-added anodic reactions, with special focus on the specific cell designs. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities for the coupled electrolysis systems are also proposed, which are targeted to facilitate progress in this field and push the CO2 electrolyzers to a more practical level.