Developing the Chemistry of Colloidal Cu Nanocrystals to Advance the CO2 Electrochemical Reduction

The ability to tailor make materials with atomic scale precision is crucial for understanding the sensitivities of their performance parameters and for achieving the design specification corresponding to optimal device operation. Herein, this topic is discussed in the context of catalysis. The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) holds the promise to close the carbon cycle by storing renewable energies in chemical feedstocks, yet it suffers from the lack of efficient and selective catalysts. This article highlights how colloidal chemistry can contribute to tackle this compelling issue by designing shape-controlled nanocatalysts. In particular, two case studies relative to copper nanocrystals are discussed.