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The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a promising approach to maintain a carbon cycle balance and produce value‐added chemicals. However, CO2RR technology is far from mature, since the conventional CO2RR electrocatalysts suffer from low activity (leading to currents <10 mA cm−2 in an H‐cell), stability (<120 h), and selectivity. Hence, they cannot meet the requirements for commercial applications (>200 mA cm−2, >8000 h, >90 % selectivity). Significant improvements are possible by taking inspiration from nature, considering biological organisms that efficiently catalyze the CO2 to various products. In this minireview, we present recent examples of enzyme‐inspired and enzyme‐mimicking CO2RR electrocatalysts enabling the production of C1 products with high faradaic efficiency (FE). At present, these designs do not typically follow a methodical approach, but rather focus on isolated features of biological systems. To achieve disruptive change, we advocate a systematic design methodology that leverages fundamental mechanisms associated with desired properties in nature and adapts them to the context of engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic reduction reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) has gained significant attention as a promising approach to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and generate valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the practical application of CO2RR has been hindered by the lack of efficient and selective electrocatalysts, particularly to produce multi‐carbon (C2+) products. Nature serves as an ideal source of inspiration for the development of CO2RR electrocatalysts, as biological organisms can efficiently catalyze the same reaction and possess robust structures that are inherently scaling. In this review, recent advances in the nature‐inspired design of electrocatalysts for CO2RR to C2+ products are summarized and categorized based on their inspiration source, including the coordination sphere of metalloenzymes and the cascade reactions within the enzyme, as well as the local environment. The importance of understanding the fundamental mechanisms and the different contexts between nature and technological application in the design process is highlighted, with the aim to improve the nature‐inspired design of electrocatalysts for CO2RR to C2+ products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main obstacles toward further commercialization of electrochemical devices are the development of highly efficient, cost-effective and robust electrocatalysts, and the suitable integration of those catalysts within devices that optimally translate catalytic performance at the nanoscale to practically relevant length and time scales. Over the last decades, advancements in manufacturing technology, computational tools, and synthesis techniques have led to a range of sophisticated electrocatalysts, mostly based on expensive platinum group metals. To further improve their design, and to reduce overall cost, inspiration can be derived from nature on multiple levels, considering nature's efficient, hierarchical structures that are intrinsically scaling, as well as biological catalysts that catalyze the same reactions as in electrochemical devices. In this review, we introduce the concept of nature-inspired chemical engineering (NICE), contrasting it to the narrow sense in which biomimetics is often applied, namely copying isolated features of biological organisms irrespective of the different context. In contrast, NICE provides a systematic design methodology to solve engineering problems, based on the fundamental understanding of mechanisms that underpin desired properties, but also adapting them to the context of engineering applications. The scope of the NICE approach is demonstrated via this comparative state-of-the-art review, providing examples of bio-inspired electrocatalysts for key energy conversion reactions and nature-inspired electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article "Nature-Inspired Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction to C2+ Products," the authors explore how the electroreduction of CO2 can be improved by drawing inspiration from nature. They discuss various factors that can enhance the selective electroreduction of CO2 to valuable products with two carbon atoms or more, such as metalloenzymes, cascade reactions, superhydrophobicity, and air-bubble collecting spiders. However, the authors emphasize the need for a systematic nature-inspired solution methodology rather than simply copying nature in order to achieve higher yields and stability. [Extracted from the article]

Hierarchical nanomaterials are highly suitable as electrocatalysts and electrocatalyst supports in electrochemical energy conversion devices. The intrinsic kinetics of an electrocatalyst are associated with the nanostructure of the active phase and the support, while the overall properties are also affected by the mesostructure. Therefore, both structures need to be controlled. A comparative state-of-the-art review of catalysts and supports is provided along with detailed synthesis methods. To further improve the design of these hierarchical nanomaterials, in-depth research on the effect of materials architecture on reaction and transport kinetics is necessary. Inspiration can be derived from nature, which is full of very effective hierarchical structures. Developing fundamental understanding of how desired properties of biological systems are related to their hierarchical architecture can guide the development of novel catalytic nanomaterials and natureinspired electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]