Sn-based electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction into value-added chemicals represents an attractive and promising approach to capitalize on the abundant CO₂ present in the atmosphere. This reaction, however, is hampered by low energy efficiency and selectivity owing to competition from hydrogen evolution reaction and multiple-electron transfer processes. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop efficient yet cost-effective electrocatalysts to facilitate practical applications. Sn-based electrocatalysts have gained increasing attention in this active field due to their outstanding merits such as abundance, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in Sn-based catalysts for the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), beginning with a brief introduction to the CO₂RR mechanism. Subsequently, the CO₂RR performance of various Sn-based catalysts with different structures is discussed. The article concludes by addressing the existing challenges and offering personal perspectives on the future prospects in this exciting research area.