Recent progress on nickel phthalocyanine-based electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction.

The electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to high-value fuels by renewable electricity is a sustainable strategy, which can substitute for fossil fuels and circumvent climate changes induced by elevated CO 2 emission levels, making the rational design of versatile electrocatalysts highly desirable. Among all the electrocatalytic materials used in the CO 2 reduction reaction, nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc)-based electrocatalysts have attracted considerable attention recently because of their high CO selectivity and catalytic activity. Herein, we review the latest advances in CO 2 electroreduction to CO catalyzed by immobilized NiPc and its derivatives on diverse surfaces. Specific strategies, the structure-performance relationship and the CO 2 -to-CO reaction mechanism of these NiPc-based electrocatalysts are analyzed. Future opportunities and challenges for this series of powerful heterogeneous electrocatalysts are also highlighted.