Research progress and challenges of photovoltaic-driven electroreduction of carbon dioxide

Photovoltaic-driven CO₂ electroreduction technology utilizes the electricity generated from solar power to electrochemically convert CO₂ into high-value chemicals or fuels. This approach represents a crucial pathway for achieving artificial carbon cycling and renewable energy storage. Here, the recent progress in photovoltaic-driven CO₂ electroreduction is systematically summarized, with a particular focus on catalyst design strategies for selectively producing high-value products such as carbon monoxide, methane, formic acid, and multi-carbon compounds. The roles of electrolyte pH, cations, and anions in regulating the selectivity of CO₂ electroreduction are also discussed. In addition, the characteristics and current development of H-cells, flow cells, membrane electrode assembly (MEA), and solid electrolyte cells are systematically analyzed, with particular emphasis on mass transport efficiency, operational stability, and compatibility with photovoltaic integration. Finally, while challenges in system configuration optimization, scale-up, long-term stability are discussed, and the future research directions are outlined. Theoretical guidance and design principles are provided for the development of efficient, stable, and scalable photovoltaic-driven CO₂ electroreduction systems.