Crafting sustainable CO₂ electrolyzers

The electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into value-added industrial feedstocks could help mitigate the adverse consequences of excessive CO₂ emissions. The adoption and integration of this process within major CO₂-emitting industries necessitates the development of robust, efficient, and economically viable systems, such as CO₂ electrolyzers, that can convert the captured CO₂ into readily usable chemicals. Practically viable CO₂ electrolyzers must demonstrate high product selectivity, possess substantial current densities, and have prolonged operational stability without any secondary complications. A collaborative effort among scientists, engineers, and theorists is needed to address operational challenges and develop unique solutions via interdisciplinary approaches. This review serves as a guide to cater to this need, providing information about the basics of CO₂ electrolyzers, followed by an in-depth discussion of their structural components. A techno-economic analysis of variable CO₂ electrolyzer assemblies is also discussed with special emphasis on reactive carbon capture and the downstream systems. A discussion on future directions highlights the potential of strategic incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning in enhancing carbon-capture and conversion efficiency.