From 0D to 3D: Carbon-based materials and their electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction performance

This review summarizes recent advances in carbon-based materials for the electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), focusing on the core innovation of structure-performance relationships in zero-to-three-dimensional carbon architectures and their regulatory mechanisms. Heteroatom doping and defect engineering are identified as key strategies to modulate local electronic environments, optimize intermediate binding, and enhance catalytic activity/selectivity. Reaction pathways for C₁ and C₂₊ products, especially C-C coupling mechanisms, are highlighted. The core challenges lie in insufficient active-site density, inefficient C₂₊ formation, and scalable application, while future research should prioritize precise multidimensional carbon structural design and reactor-level optimization for practical CO₂ electroreduction.