Bio-inspired Molecules and Materials: CO₂ Reduction as a Case Study

Abstract

This account reviews our recent research activities in the field of CO₂ reduction. We discuss here the potential of the bio-inspired approach for the design of electrocatalytic systems for small molecule transformation. Exploiting the billion years of evolution of natural systems, we illustrate the potential of bio-inspired strategies across multiple scales to design catalytic systems. We demonstrate in particular how the shape of biological systems as well as enzymatic active sites and their environment can constitute effective sources of inspiration for the design of electrocatalysts with improved performances.