Progress and Prospects in Cascade Upgrading of CO2 Electroreduction Products Toward Long-Chain Chemicals

Houan Ren; Xinguo Wang; Xiaoyang He; Qinghong Zhang; Yuming Yu; Ye Wang; Shunji Xie

doi:10.1007/s12209-026-00497-x

Transactions of Tianjin University ›› :1 -17. DOI: 10.1007/s12209-026-00497-x

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Progress and Prospects in Cascade Upgrading of CO₂ Electroreduction Products Toward Long-Chain Chemicals

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¹State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China

²State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources, College of Chemistry, Xinjiang University, 830017, Urumqi, China

Corresponding author:

^a hexiaoyang@stu.xmu.edu.cn

^b yym2009@iccas.ac.cn

^c shunji_xie@xmu.edu.cn

Xiaoyang He

Xiaoyang He received his B.E. degree from Dalian University of Technology in 2019 and obtained his PhD degree from Xiamen University in 2026. His research interests focus on catalyst design, electrolyzer engineering, and in situ characterization for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction.

Yuming Yu

Yuming Yu received his BSc degree from Leshan Normal University in 2006 and his MSc degree from Xinjiang University in 2009. He obtained his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICCAS) and Peking University in 2013, followed by postdoctoral research at Boston College and Lehigh University. He joined Xinjiang University in 2017 and was promoted to full Professor in 2024. His research is centered on the rational construction of three-dimensional organic porous frameworks—including COFs, POPs, and MOFs—for heterogeneous photocatalysis, with current interests in solar-driven H₂O₂ production, CO₂ conversion, and sustainable organic synthesis.

Shunji Xie

Shunji Xie received his BSc and MSc degrees from Hunan University of China in 2008 and 2011 and obtained his PhD degree from Xiamen University in 2014. He then carried out postdoctoral research at the Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM). He became a full professor in the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Xiamen University in 2020. His research interests focus on photocatalysis and electrocatalysis for C1 and sustainable chemistry, including CO₂ reduction, CH₄ oxidation, biomass conversion, and ethylene glycol synthesis.

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Abstract

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) has achieved remarkable selectivity toward C₁ and C₂ products; however, the direct electrosynthesis of long-chain (C₄₊) and structurally complex molecules remains challenging. Coupling CO₂ electrolysis with downstream biological, thermal, electrochemical, or organic transformations offers a practical route to produce long-chain and structurally complex compounds, thereby expanding the product spectrum to include fuels, fine chemicals, polymers, and functional materials. In this mini review, we systematically summarize recent progress in four representative cascade configurations: electro–biological, electro–thermal, electro–electro, and electro–organic systems. For each configuration, we discuss the underlying principles, analyze the key coupling challenges, and summarize the corresponding optimization strategies along with representative studies. We further compare the technological features, product scope, and scalability limitations of these cascade systems in terms of reaction condition compatibility, multiphase interface engineering, energy efficiency, and system integration. Finally, we outline future research priorities aimed at accelerating the translation of CO₂ cascade technologies from laboratory-scale proof-of-concept studies to industrially relevant platforms.

Keywords

CO₂ electroreduction / Cascade conversion / Electro–biological / Electro–thermal / Electro–electro / Electro–organic

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Houan Ren, Xinguo Wang, Xiaoyang He, Qinghong Zhang, Yuming Yu, Ye Wang, Shunji Xie. Progress and Prospects in Cascade Upgrading of CO₂ Electroreduction Products Toward Long-Chain Chemicals. Transactions of Tianjin University 1-17 DOI:10.1007/s12209-026-00497-x

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