Abstract The reconstruction of Cu catalysts during electrochemical reduction of CO 2 is a widely known but poorly understood phenomenon.

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• Structural Asymmetric Regulation in Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Efficient Electrocatalytic CO ₂ to C ₂ Products (2026) · doi

  ABSTRACT Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to value‐added C 2 products is a promising pathway for sustainable chemical manufacturing and carbon resource valorization, yet its efficiency remains limited by the intrinsically sluggish C─C coupling step.

  Keywords: abstract electrocatalytic reduction reaction value added products promising pathway sustainable chemical manufacturing carbon resource valorization
• Continuously Producing Highly Concentrated and Pure Acetic Acid Aqueous Solution via Direct Electroreduction of CO₂ (2024) · doi

  Despite one-pot tandem catalysis (dividing the eCO2RR to C2 into two catalytical reactions of CO2 to CO and CO to C2) offering the potential for significantly enhancing reaction efficiency, its mechanism remains unclear and its performance is unsatisfactory.

  Keywords: despite tandem catalysis dividing catalytical reactions offering potential enhancing reaction efficiency mechanism remains unclear performance
• Beyond Leverage in Activity and Stability toward CO₂ Electroreduction to Formate over a Bismuth Catalyst (2024) · doi

  Nevertheless, limited by the unstable structure and states of catalysts under electrochemical conditions, electroreduction of CO2 to formate is still facing a trade-off between activity and stability, especially at high current densities.

  Keywords: nevertheless limited unstable structure states catalysts electrochemical conditions electroreduction formate still facing trade activity stability
• Coordination‐Engineered Interfacial Pathway Partitioning for Electrocatalytic CO ₂ Conversion and Downstream Upgrading (2026) · doi

  ABSTRACT Electrochemical CO 2 reduction (eCO 2 RR) is increasingly capable of delivering downstream‐compatible carbon products, yet the interfacial origin of pathway selection remains insufficiently understood.

  Keywords: abstract electrochemical reduction increasingly capable delivering downstream compatible carbon products interfacial origin pathway selection remains
• N and OH-Immobilized Cu₃ Clusters In Situ Reconstructed from Single-Metal Sites for Efficient CO₂ Electromethanation in Bicontinuous Mesochannels (2024) · doi

  However, the activity and selectivity remain insufficient due to the lack of catalyst design principles to steer complex CO2 reduction pathways.

  Keywords: activity selectivity remain insufficient lack catalyst design principles steer complex reduction pathways
• Alkali cation-induced cathodic corrosion in Cu electrocatalysts (2024) · doi

  Abstract The reconstruction of Cu catalysts during electrochemical reduction of CO 2 is a widely known but poorly understood phenomenon.

  Keywords: abstract reconstruction catalysts electrochemical reduction widely known poorly understood phenomenon