Recent research trends in the rational designing of single atom catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction to CO—a mini review

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is a crucial energy conversion protocol involving two significant processes: converting CO₂, a greenhouse gas, into value-added products and reducing fossil fuel usage to produce fuels or chemical products. Moreover, the production of CO from the carbon dioxide reduction reaction is highly substantial since it is a two-proton/electron reaction, and it also finds potential applications in chemical, metallurgical, and pharmaceutical industries. Among the various classes of electrocatalytic materials, single-atom catalysts have attracted great attention because of their high atom utilization. Here, we survey the recent research trends involved in the preparation of single atom-based electrocatalysts for the generation of carbon monoxide from the electroreduction of carbon dioxide.