Advances in electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate over bismuth-based catalysts

Selective CO₂ reduction to formate with high-added value is one of the most technologically and economically feasible pathways to realize electrochemical CO₂ fixation. Bismuth-based catalysts have the advantages of nontoxicity, low cost, high abundance, as well as excellent stability. In addition, bismuth-based catalysts display excellent selectivity for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate in aqueous electrolytes due to high-hydrogen evolution overpotential. Hence, bismuth-based catalysts are by far the most commercially available materials for electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate. In this review, the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate over bismuth-based catalysts is elaborated. Firstly, this review describes performance evaluation indexes, evaluation systems and reaction mechanisms of the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate over bismuth-based catalysts. Subsequently, the research means to reveal the reaction mechanism of electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate over bismuth-based catalysts and the performance improvement strategies of the reaction are described in detail. Finally, the opportunities and challenges in this encouraging field are discussed. We believe that this review will contribute to further development of electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate over bismuth-based catalysts. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]