Ionic Liquid‐Modified Catalyst for Electrocatalytic CO ₂ Reduction: Design, Regulation and Application

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is an abundant C 1 resource, and its electrochemical conversion enables the integration of CO 2 fixation with renewable energy storage, thereby providing an effective approach to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle. As a new class of green and tunable solvents, ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional electrolytes in electrochemical CO 2 conversion processes. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of ILs as electrocatalyst components for CO 2 electroreduction. Particular emphasis is placed on how IL components, electrocatalyst properties, and operational conditions affect catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. The intrinsic mechanisms underlying the enhanced CO 2 conversion performance achieved by IL‐modified catalysts are analyzed, which provides valuable guidance for the rational design of novel IL‐based electrochemical CO 2 conversion processes. Finally, the critical challenges currently faced in this research field are highlighted, and potential directions for future investigations are proposed.