Efficient Reduction of CO2 into Formic Acid on a Lead or Tin Electrode using an Ionic Liquid Catholyte Mixture

Highly efficient electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into value‐added chemicals using cheap and easily prepared electrodes is environmentally and economically compelling. The first work on the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ in ternary electrolytes containing ionic liquid, organic solvent, and H₂O is described. Addition of a small amount of H₂O to an ionic liquid/acetonitrile electrolyte mixture significantly enhanced the efficiency of the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into formic acid (HCOOH) on a Pb or Sn electrode, and the efficiency was extremely high using an ionic liquid/acetonitrile/H₂O ternary mixture. The partial current density for HCOOH reached 37.6 mA cm^?2 at a Faradaic efficiency of 91.6 %, which is much higher than all values reported to date for this reaction, including those using homogeneous and noble metal electrocatalysts. The reasons for such high efficiency were investigated using controlled experiments.     

Cu/活性炭催化剂：水合肼还原制备及催化甲醇氧化羰基化

以活性炭为载体,水合肼为还原剂制备了负载型Cu/活性炭催化剂,考察了水合肼/硝酸铜物质的量的比对催化甲醇气相氧化羰基化性能的影响,并采用XRD、XPS、H2-TPR和SEM等手段对催化剂进行了表征。结果表明,不加入还原剂水合肼时,催化剂中仅有CuO;随着水合肼/硝酸铜物质的量的比的增加,二价铜逐步被还原为Cu2O和/或单质Cu0,未被还原的Cu(OH)2在催化剂干燥过程中分解形成分散态CuO存在于催化剂表面。当水合肼/硝酸铜物质的量的比为0.75时,催化剂的催化性能最好,碳酸二甲酯的时空收率为120.62 mg.(g.h)-1,选择性为74.51%,甲醇转化率达到3.88%。在93 h反应时间内,催化剂都保持了较高的反应活性和选择性。此时铜物种以Cu2O和分散态CuO为主,Cu2O是主要的活性物种。     

Contribution of CuxO distribution,shape and ratio on TiO2 nanotubes to improve methanol production from CO2 photoelectroreduction

Many studies are focused on the development of materials for converting carbon dioxide into multicarbon oxygenates such as methanol and ethanol, because of their higher energy density and wider applicability. In this work, TiO₂ nanotubes (NT/TiO₂) were modified with Cu_xO nanoparticles in order to investigate the contribution of different ratio of Cu₂O/CuO and its distribution over NT/TiO₂ for CO₂ photoelectro-conversion to methanol. The photoelectrodes were built by anodization process to obtain NT/TiO₂ layer, and the decoration with Cu_xO hybrid system was carried out by electrodeposition process, using Na₂SO₄ or acid lactic as electrolyte, followed by annealing at different temperatures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the predominance of Cu⁺¹ and Cu⁺² at 150 °C and 300 °C, respectively. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy indicated that under lactic acid solution, the oxide nanoparticles exhibited small size, cubic shape, and uniform distribution on the nanotube wall. While under Na₂SO₄ electrolyte, large nanoparticles with two different morphologies, octahedral and cubic shapes, were deposited on the top of the nanotubes. All modified electrodes converted CO₂ in methanol in different quantities, identified by gas chromatograph. However, the NT/TiO₂ modified with CuO/Cu₂O (80:20) nanoparticles using lactic acid as electrolyte showed better performance in the CO₂ reduction to methanol (0.11 mmol L⁻¹) in relation to the other electrodes. In all cases, a blend among the structures and nanoparticle morphologies were achieved and essential to create new site of reactions what improved the use of light irradiation, minimization of charge recombination rate and promoted high selectivity of products.

     

柠檬酸辅助固相研磨法制备铜基催化剂及在CO_2加氢合成甲醇反应中的性能研究

通过柠檬酸辅助固相研磨法制备铜基催化剂,采用XRD、TPR、TG-DSC、SEM、BET、TEM、XPS、CO_2-TPD等手段对催化剂性能进行表征.结果表明室温固相研磨的前驱体在惰性气体N_2中焙烧使体系中的CuO绝大部分被原位还原成Cu~0,不需外加H_2还原,直接制得了C/I-Cu/ZnO催化剂,催化剂具有中孔.利用高压固定床连续反应装置对催化剂活性进行了评价,结果表明,柠檬酸用量、前驱体焙烧温度、焙烧升温速率等条件对催化剂活性产生影响,当C_6H_8O_7/(Cu+Zn)摩尔比为1.2/1并Cu/Zn摩尔比1/1,前驱体在N_2中以3 K·min~(-1)升温速率于623 K焙烧3 h,制得的C/I-Cu/ZnO催化剂比表面积最大,Cu~0粒径最小,在CO_2加氢合成甲醇反应中表现出最佳的活性,CO_2转化率、甲醇选择性和产率分别达到了28.28%、74.29%和21.01%.与外加H_2还原的C/H-Cu/ZnO催化剂相比,原位还原C/I-Cu/ZnO催化剂比表面积较大,Cu~0的粒径较小,活性较高.     

Characterization and Activity of Cu‐MnOx/γ‐Al2O3 Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide

The effect of manganese on the dispersion, reduction behavior and active states of surface of supported copper oxide catalysts have been investigated by XRD, temperature‐programmed reduction and XPS. The activity of methanol synthesis from CO₂/H₂ was also investigated. The catalytic activity over CuO‐MnO_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst for CO₂ hydrogenation is higher than that of CuO/γ‐Al₂O₃. The adding of manganese is beneficial in enhancing the dispersion of the supported copper oxide and make the TPR peak of the CuO‐MnK_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst different from the individual supported copper and manganese oxide catalysts, which indicates that there exists strong interaction between the copper and manganese oxide. For the CuO/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst there are two reducible copper oxide species; α and β peaks are attributed to the reduction of highly dispersed copper oxide species and bulk CuO species, respectively. For the CuO‐MnO_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst, four reduction peaks are observed, α peak is attributed to the dispersed copper oxide species; β peak is ascribed to the bulk CuO; γ peak is attributed to the reduction of high dispersed CuO interacting with manganese; δ peak may be the reduction of the manganese oxide interacting with copper oxide. XPS results show that Cu⁺ mostly existed on the working surface of the Cu‐Mn/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalysts. The activity was promoted by Cu with positive charge which was formed by means of long path exchange function between Cu? O? Mn. These results indicate that there is synergistic interaction between the copper and manganese oxide, which is responsible for the high activity of CO₂ hydrogenation.     

溶剂极性对微波辐射老化制备前驱体及CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂结构的影响

在制备CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂的老化过程中,采用微波辐射老化技术,着重研究了溶剂极性对前躯体物相组成,烧后CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂结构及其在浆态床合成甲醇工艺中催化性能的影响。通过XRD、DTG、H2-TPR,FTIR、HR-TEM和XPS对前驱体及催化剂表征表明,沉淀母液在微波辐射条件下进行老化,溶剂的极性对前躯体物相组成及催化剂结构影响显著。随着溶剂极性的增大,Zn2+/Cu2+取代Cu2(CO3)(OH)2/Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6中Cu2+/Zn2+的取代反应增强,使得前躯体中(Cu,Zn)5(CO3)2(OH)6和(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2物相的含量增多,结晶度提高,导致烧后CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂中CuO-ZnO协同作用增强,且CuO晶粒减小,表面Cu含量增加,催化剂活性和稳定性提高。水溶剂的极性最大,制备的催化剂活性和稳定性最好,甲醇的时空收率(STY)和平均失活率分别为320 mg.g-1.h-1和0.11%.d-1。     

CO2 Reduction Mechanism on the Cu2O(110) Surface: A First-Principles Study

Cu₂O is an attractive catalyst for the selective reduction of CO₂ to methanol. However, the mechanism of the reaction and the role of the Cu species in different oxidation states are not well understood yet. In this work, by first-principles calculations, we investigate the mechanism of the reaction on the Cu₂O(110) surface, which is the most selective for methanol, in different degrees of reduction: ideal surface, slightly reduced surface (SRS), and partially reduced surface (PRS). The most favorable reaction pathways on the three surfaces were identified. We found that Cu(I) on the ideal surface is not capable of chemisorbing CO₂, but surface oxygen serves as the active site which selectively converts CO₂ to CH₃OH with a limiting potential of −0.77 V. The Cu(0) on the SRS and PRS promotes the adsorption and reduction of CO₂, while the removal of the residue O* becomes potential/rate limiting with a more negative limiting potential than the ideal surface. The SRS is selective to methanol while the PRS becomes selective to methane. The result suggests that the key to high methanol selectivity is to avoid the reduction of Cu(I), which provides a new strategy for the design of more efficient catalysts for selective CO₂ reduction to methanol.     

Tuning C1/C2 Selectivity of CO2 Electrochemical Reduction over in-Situ Evolved CuO/SnO2 Heterostructure

Heterostructured oxides with versatile active sites, as a class of efficient catalysts for CO₂ electrochemical reduction (CO₂ER), are prone to undergo structure reconstruction under working conditions, thus bringing challenges to understanding the reaction mechanism and rationally designing catalysts. Herein, we for the first time elucidate the structural reconstruction of CuO/SnO₂ under electrochemical potentials and reveal the intrinsic relationship between CO₂ER product selectivity and the in situ evolved heterostructures. At −0.85 V_RHE, the CuO/SnO₂ evolves to Cu₂O/SnO₂ with high selectivity to HCOOH (Faradaic efficiency of 54.81 %). Mostly interestingly, it is reconstructed to Cu/SnO_2-x at −1.05 V_RHE with significantly improved Faradaic efficiency to ethanol of 39.8 %. In situ Raman spectra and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the synergetic absorption of *COOH and *CHOCO intermediates at the interface of Cu/SnO_2-x favors the formation of *CO and decreases the energy barrier of C−C coupling, leading to high selectivity to ethanol.     

Conversion of CuO Nanoplates into Porous Hybrid Cu2O/Polypyrrole Nanoflakes through a Pyrrole‐Induced Reductive Transformation Reaction

Porous hybrid Cu₂O/polypyrrole nanoflakes have been synthesized from solid CuO nanoplate templates through the pyrrole‐induced reductive transformation reaction at elevated temperature. The conversion mechanism involves the reductive transformation of CuO to Cu₂O and the in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole to polypyrrole. In addition, the morphology of the as‐converted nanohybrids depends on the shape of the CuO precursors. The strategy enables us to transform single‐crystalline CuO nanosheets into hollow hybrid Cu₂O/polypyrrole nanoframes. The ability to transform CuO and an organic monomer into porous hybrid materials of conducting polymer and Cu₂O with macrosized morphological retention opens up interesting possibilities to create novel nanostructures. Electrochemical examinations show that these porous hybrid Cu₂O/polypyrrole nanostructures exhibit efficient catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), excellent methanol tolerance ability, and catalytic stability in alkaline solution, thus making them promising nonprecious‐metal‐based catalysts for ORR in alkaline fuel cells and metal–air batteries.     

Cu/Cu2O Electrodes and CO2 Reduction to Formic Acid: Effects of Organic Additives on Surface Morphology and Activity

Copper/copper oxide (Cu/Cu₂O) electrodes are known to display interesting electrocatalytic performances for the reduction of CO₂, and thus, deserve further investigation for optimization. Here, we show that the addition of nitrogen‐based organic additives greatly improves the activity of these electrodes (higher current densities, greater selectivity, and higher faradaic yields). The best effector is found to be tetramethyl cyclam. For example, electrolysis at ?2.0 V versus Fc⁺/Fc in CO₂‐saturated DMF/H₂O (99:1, v/v) in the presence of this effector results in formic acid with almost 90 % faradaic yield. SEM and XPS analysis of the electrode surface reveals that the organic additive promotes the formation of active Cu⁰ nanoparticles from Cu₂O during electrolysis. This simple approach provides a straightforward strategy toward the optimization of Cu/Cu₂O electrodes.     

Unveiling the Activity Origin of a Copper-based Electrocatalyst for Selective Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia

Unveiling the active phase of catalytic materials under reaction conditions is important for the construction of efficient electrocatalysts for selective nitrate reduction to ammonia. The origin of the prominent activity enhancement for CuO (Faradaic efficiency: 95.8 %, Selectivity: 81.2 %) toward selective nitrate electroreduction to ammonia was probed. ¹⁵N isotope labeling experiments showed that ammonia originated from nitrate reduction. ¹H NMR spectroscopy and colorimetric methods were performed to quantify ammonia. In situ Raman and ex situ experiments revealed that CuO was electrochemically converted into Cu/Cu₂O, which serves as an active phase. The combined results of online differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) and DFT calculations demonstrated that the electron transfer from Cu₂O to Cu at the interface could facilitate the formation of *NOH intermediate and suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction, leading to high selectivity and Faradaic efficiency.     

Unveiling the Activity Origin of a Copper‐based Electrocatalyst for Selective Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia

Unveiling the active phase of catalytic materials under reaction conditions is important for the construction of efficient electrocatalysts for selective nitrate reduction to ammonia. The origin of the prominent activity enhancement for CuO (Faradaic efficiency: 95.8 %, Selectivity: 81.2 %) toward selective nitrate electroreduction to ammonia was probed. ¹⁵N isotope labeling experiments showed that ammonia originated from nitrate reduction. ¹H NMR spectroscopy and colorimetric methods were performed to quantify ammonia. In situ Raman and ex situ experiments revealed that CuO was electrochemically converted into Cu/Cu₂O, which serves as an active phase. The combined results of online differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) and DFT calculations demonstrated that the electron transfer from Cu₂O to Cu at the interface could facilitate the formation of *NOH intermediate and suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction, leading to high selectivity and Faradaic efficiency.     

Production of hydrogen by oxidative steam reforming of methanol over Cu/SiO2 catalysts

Selective production of hydrogen by oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM) was studied over Cu/SiO₂ catalyst using fixed bed flow reactor. Textural and structural properties of the catalyst were analyzed by various instrumental methods. TPR analysis illustrates that the reduction temperature peak was observed between 510?K and 532?K at various copper loadings and calcination temperatures and the peaks shifted to higher temperature with increasing copper loading and calcination temperature. The XRD and XPS analysis demonstrates that the copper existed in different oxidation states at different conditions: Cu₂O, Cu⁰, CuO and Cu(OH)₂ in uncalcined sample; CuO in calcined sample: Cu₂O and metallic Cu after reduction at 600?K and Cu⁰ and CuO after catalytic test. TEM analysis reveals that at various copper loadings, the copper particle size is in the range between 3.0?nm and 3.8?nm. The Cu particle size after catalytic test increased from 3.6 to 4.8?nm, which is due to the formation of oxides of copper as evidenced from XRD and XPS analysis. The catalytic performance at various Cu loadings shows that with increasing Cu loading from 4.7 to 17.3?wt%, the activity increases and thereafter it decreases. Effect of calcination shows that the sample calcined at 673?K exhibited high activity. The O₂/CH₃OH and H₂O/CH₃OH molar ratios play important role in reaction rate and product distribution. The optimum molar ratios of O₂/CH₃OH and H₂O/CH₃OH are 0.25 and 0.1, respectively. When the reaction temperature varied from 473 to 548?K, the methanol conversion and H₂ production rate are in the range of 21.9–97.5% and 1.2–300.9?mmol?kg^?1?s^?1, respectively. The CO selectivity is negligible at these temperatures. Under the optimum conditions (17.3?wt%, Cu/SiO₂; calcination temperature 673?K; 0.25 O₂/CH₃OH molar ratio, 0.5 H₂O/CH₃OH molar ratio and reaction temperature 548?K), the maximum hydrogen yield obtained was 2.45?mol of hydrogen per mole of methanol. The time on stream stability test showed that the Cu/SiO₂ catalyst is quite stable for 48?h.     

Evolution of Cu-Zn-Si oxide catalysts in the course of reduction and reoxidation as studied by in situ X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and magnetic susceptibility methods

The reduced and reoxidized Cu-Zn-Si oxide catalysts as layered copper-zinc hydroxo silicates with the zincsilite structure were studied using in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility. The catalysts were prepared by homogeneous deposition-precipitation. It was found that Cu⁰ particles were formed on the surface of a layered hydrosilicate with the zincsilite structure upon reduction with hydrogen. The reoxidation of the reduced samples with a mixture of oxygen and an inert gas, which contained no more than 0.05 vol % O₂, resulted in the formation of individual Cu₂O and CuO phases; copper ions did not return to the hydrosilicate structure. Catalytic tests of Cu-Zn-Si catalysts in methanol synthesis indicate that the specific catalytic activity of copper metal particles grows linearly with increasing zinc loading. This fact suggests that copper metal particles, which were obtained by the reduction of Cu²⁺ ions from the copper-zinc hydroxo silicate with the zincsilite structure, were responsible for activity in methanol synthesis. Consequently, the ability to return copper ions to a precursor compound in reoxidation with oxygen at low concentrations, which is known for reduced Cu/ZnO catalysts (these catalysts are highly active in methanol synthesis), is not related to the catalytic activity in methanol synthesis.     

微波辐射对浆态床合成甲醇CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂前驱体晶相转变的影响

在微波辐射条件下,对CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂的沉淀母液进行老化,通过XRD、TG、H2-TPR,FTIR、HR-TEM和XPS对前驱体及催化剂微观结构的进行表征,探讨了CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂前驱体晶相转变过程中微波辐射的作用。结果表明,微波辐射有利于Cu2+取代Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6中Zn2+的同晶取代反应。微波辐射的老化过程中,首先发生Cu2+取代Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6中Zn2+生成(Cu,Zn)5(CO3)2(OH)6的同晶取代反应,并于1.0 h内基本完成;随着老化时间继续延长,主要进行Zn2+取代Cu2(CO3)(OH)2中Cu2+生成(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2的同晶取代反应,同时(Cu,Zn)5(CO3)2(OH)6进一步结晶。与常规老化1 h制备的前驱体相比,微波辐射老化1.0 h制备的前驱体含有较多的(Cu,Zn)5(CO3)2(OH)6物相,有助于增强焙烧后CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂中CuO-ZnO协同作用,提高表面铜含量,进而提高CuO/ZnO/Al2O3催化剂在浆态床合成甲醇的催化活性和稳定性,在400 h浆态床合成甲醇评价期间,甲醇时空收率最大达318.9 g.kg-1.h-1,失活率仅为0.11%.d-1。     

Catalysts for low-temperature methanol synthesis. I. A study of the reduction process

A study of the reduction of CuO in a ternary oxide system (Cu:Zn:Al, atomic ratio 62:14:24) demonstrated that at lower temperatures it occurred in two stages, whereas at higher temperatures it was no longer possible to display the formation of Cu₂O. The rate of reduction of CuO was strongly reduced on decreasing the partial pressure of hydrogen, while the presence of CO₂ stabilized the Cu₂O, delaying the reduction to copper. On the basis of simpler systems it was possible to demonstrate the activating effect of Al₂O₃ and the delaying effect of ZnO on the reduction of CuO.     

Effect of sodium cation on the electrochemical reduction of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> at a copper electrode in methanol

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ with a Cu electrode in methanol was investigated with sodium hydroxide supporting salt. A divided H-type cell was employed; the supporting electrolytes were 80 mmol dm⁻³ sodium hydroxide in methanol (catholyte) and 300 mmol dm⁻³ potassium hydroxide in methanol (anolyte). The main products from CO₂ were methane, ethylene, carbon monoxide, and formic acid. The maximum current efficiency for hydrocarbons (methane and ethylene) was 80.6%, at −4.0 V vs Ag/AgCl, saturated KCl. The ratio of current efficiency for methane/ethylene, r _f(CH₄)/r _f(C₂H₄), was similar to those obtained in LiOH/methanol-based electrolyte and larger relative to those in methanol using KOH, RbOH, and CsOH supporting salts. In NaOH/methanol-based electrolyte, the efficiency of hydrogen formation, a competing reaction of CO₂ reduction, was suppressed to below 4%. The electrochemical CO₂ reduction to methane may be able to proceed efficiently in a hydrophilic environment near the electrode surface provided by sodium cation.     

Controllable Hydrocarbon Formation from the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 over Cu Nanowire Arrays

In this work, the effect of Cu nanowire morphology on the selective electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ is presented. Cu nanowire arrays were prepared through a two‐step synthesis of Cu(OH)₂ and CuO nanowire arrays on Cu foil substrates and a subsequent electrochemical reduction of the CuO nanowire arrays to Cu nanowire arrays. By this simple synthesis method, Cu nanowire array electrodes with different length and density were able to be controllably synthesized. We show that the selectivity for hydrocarbons (ethylene, n‐propanol, ethane, and ethanol) on Cu nanowire array electrodes at a fixed potential can be tuned by systematically altering the Cu nanowire length and density. The nanowire morphology effect is linked to the increased local pH in the Cu nanowire arrays and a reaction scheme detailing the local pH‐induced formation of C₂ products is also presented by a preferred CO dimerization pathway.     

Electrical Pulse-Driven Periodic Self-Repair of Cu-Ni Tandem Catalyst for Efficient Ammonia Synthesis from Nitrate

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction sustainably produces ammonia and alleviates water pollution, yet is still challenging due to the kinetic mismatch and hydrogen evolution competition. Cu/Cu₂O heterojunction is proven effective to break the rate-determining NO₃⁻-to-NO₂⁻ step for efficient NH₃ conversion, while it is unstable due to electrochemical reconstruction. Here we report a programmable pulsed electrolysis strategy to achieve reliable Cu/Cu₂O structure, where Cu is oxidized to CuO during oxidation pulse, then regenerating Cu/Cu₂O upon reduction. Alloying with Ni further modulates hydrogen adsorption, which transfers from Ni/Ni(OH)₂ to N-containing intermediates on Cu/Cu₂O, promoting NH₃ formation with a high NO₃⁻-to-NH₃ Faraday efficiency (88.0±1.6 %, pH 12) and NH₃ yield rate (583.6±2.4 μmol cm⁻² h⁻¹) under optimal pulsed conditions. This work provides new insights to in situ electrochemically regulate catalysts for NO₃⁻-to-NH₃ conversion.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Dopamine at a Nanocuprous Oxide‐Methylene Blue Composite Glassy Carbon Electrode

Cuprous oxide nanowhisker was prepared by using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CATB) as soft template, and was characterized by XRD and TEM methods. The electrochemical properties of nano‐Cu₂O and nano‐Cu₂O‐methylene blue (MB) modified electrode were studied. The experimental results indicate that nano‐Cu₂O shows a couple of redox peaks corresponding to the redox of Cu(II)/Cu(I), the peak currents are linear to the scan rates which demonstrate that the electrochemical response of Cu₂O is surface‐controlled. The composite nano‐Cu₂O‐Nafion‐MB modified electrode shows a trend of decrease of peak currents corresponding to the Cu (II)/Cu (I). However, the electrocatalytic ability of nano‐Cu₂O‐MB composite film to dopamine increases dramatically. At this composite electrode, dopamine shows a couple of quasireversible redox peaks with a peak separation of 106 mV, the peak current increases about 8 times and the oxidation peak potential decreases about 200 mV as compared to that at bare glassy carbon electrode. The peak currents change linearly with concentration of dopamine from 1×10^?7 to 3.2×10^?4 mol/L, the detection limit is 4.6×10^?8 mol/L. The composite electrode can effectively eliminate the interference of ascorbic acid and has better stability and excellent reproducibility.