Strain Engineering Electrocatalysts for Selective CO₂ Reduction

Lattice strain can enhance the activity and selectivity of electrochemical reactions by breaking the linear scaling relationship. Notwithstanding, the explicit use of strain to affect the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is rarely reported. In this Perspective, we highlight the opportunity to use strain to affect the activity and selectivity of CO2RR electrocatalysts. We summarize the existing challenges in isolating the influence of strain from convoluting factors (e.g., size, shape, electronic, and surfactant effects) that result from typical methods of inducing strain. We also propose ways to isolate strain effects using the application of mechanical strain to thin-film CO2RR catalysts. We designed this Perspective to motivate the use of joint empirical and computational studies to investigate CO2RR strain–activity–selectivity relationships.