Acidic CO Electrolysis Addressing the "Alkalinity Issue" and Achieving High CO Utilization.

Electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CO RR) provides a promising approach for sustainable chemical fuel production of carbon neutrality. Neutral and alkaline electrolytes are predominantly employed in the current electrolysis system, but with striking drawbacks of (bi)carbonate (CO /HCO ) formation and crossover due to the rapid and thermodynamically favourable reaction between hydroxide (OH ) with CO , resulting in low carbon utilization efficiency and short-lived catalysis. Very recently, CO RR in acidic media can effectively address the (bi)carbonate issue; however, the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is more kinetically favourable in acidic electrolytes, which dramatically reduces CO conversion efficiency. Thus, it is a big challenge to effectively suppress HER and accelerate acidic CO RR. In this review, we begin by summarizing the recent progress of acidic CO electrolysis, discussing the key factors limiting the application of acidic electrolytes. We then systematically discuss addressing strategies for acidic CO electrolysis, including electrolyte microenvironment modulation, alkali cations adjusting, surface/interface functionalization, nanoconfinement structural design, and novel electrolyzer exploitation. Finally, the new challenges and perspectives of acidic CO electrolysis are suggested. We believe this timely review can arouse researchers' attention to CO crossover, inspire new insights to solve the "alkalinity problem" and enable CO RR as a more sustainable technology.