New perspectives, rational designs, and engineering of Tin (Sn)-based materials for electrochemical CO₂ reduction

Minimizing greenhouse CO₂ gas emissions is a primary research concern to avoid the outcome of climate crisis. Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (EcCO₂R) in upgraded chemicals and fuels offers a way to address CO₂ emission. Because of their high efficiency, low cost, and environmental friendliness, tin (Sn)-based electrocatalysts have attracted a lot of attention. The typical methodologies to increase electrocatalytic performance and selectivity towards desired product and electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (EcCO₂R) are critically reviewed in this paper. The main objective of this review article is to explore and summarize possible Sn-based materials and composites for the application of EcCO₂RR. The impact of composition engineering, nanoengineering, and mechanisms to improve electrocatalytic performance are studied. The electrochemical performance of Sn-based materials and their composites based on the overpotential, electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), Tafel slope, selectivity, turn over frequency (TOF) and chronopotentiometric/chronoamperometric stability have been explained. Thus, tin-based materials have promising perspectives as catalysts for the reduction of electrochemical CO₂, with potential for further optimization and integration with renewable energy sources.