The Origin of the Catalytic Activity of a Metal Hydride in CO2 Reduction

Atomic hydrogen on the surface of a metal with high hydrogen solubility is of particular interest for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. In a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, methane was markedly formed on the metal hydride ZrCoH_x in the course of the hydrogen desorption and not on the pristine intermetallic. The surface analysis was performed by means of time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy and near‐ambient pressure X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, for the in situ analysis. The aim was to elucidate the origin of the catalytic activity of the metal hydride. Since at the initial stage the dissociation of impinging hydrogen molecules is hindered by a high activation barrier of the oxidised surface, the atomic hydrogen flux from the metal hydride is crucial for the reduction of carbon dioxide and surface oxides at interfacial sites.     

Surface Reconstruction of Ultrathin Palladium Nanosheets during Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

A surface reconstructing phenomenon is discovered on a defect-rich ultrathin Pd nanosheet catalyst for aqueous CO₂ electroreduction. The pristine nanosheets with dominant (111) facet sites are transformed into crumpled sheet-like structures prevalent in electrocatalytically active (100) sites. The reconstruction increases the density of active sites and reduces the CO binding strength on Pd surfaces, remarkably promoting the CO₂ reduction to CO. A high CO Faradaic efficiency of 93 % is achieved with a site-specific activity of 6.6 mA cm⁻² at a moderate overpotential of 590 mV on the reconstructed 50 nm Pd nanosheets. Experimental and theoretical studies suggest the CO intermediate as a key factor driving the structural transformation during CO₂ reduction. This study highlights the dynamic nature of defective metal nanosheets under reaction conditions and suggests new opportunities in surface engineering of 2D metal nanostructures to tune their electrocatalytic performance.     

Further Study of CO2 Electrochemical Reduction on Palladium Modified BDD Electrode: Influence of Electrolyte

The study of CO₂ electrochemical reduction to useful compounds using bare or modified BDD electrode attracts numerous attentions. Meanwhile, the efficiency of products obtained from CO₂ electrochemical reduction is known to be determined by the electrode material and the electrolyte. Formic acid as main product and CO as a minor product, have also been known on the CO₂ reduction using BDD electrode. Recently, we reported the successful improvement of CO production from the reduction of CO₂ by decorating the surface of BDD electrode with palladium particles. Following this, herein, we present further investigation on electrolyte dependence, including cation and anion dependence and also concentration effect in order to understand deeply the CO₂ reduction on surface of palladium modified BDD electrode. The results suggest the use of NaCl and KCl as a catholyte for optimum performance, in addition to the improvement of CO₂ reduction product in higher electrolyte concentration.     

氢还原重量法测定氯化钯产品中的钯含量

建立了氢还原重量法测定氯化钯产品钯含量的新方法,系统研究了测定条件,结合ICP-AES法考察了杂质元素对了分析结果的误差影响。结果表明：含钯量约3 g的氯化钯于750 ℃氢还原为海绵钯和105 ℃干燥水气的条件下,测定59.78%、59.98%和60.03%的钯含量,极差、标准偏差(S)、相对标准偏差(RSD,n=22)和重复性限(r)分别为±0.01%、0.0047%～0.0050%、0.0079%～0.0083%和0.009%～0.014%。样品加标准回收率99.98%。本法结果准确、精密,且与GB/T 15072.4-2008标准分析方法的吻合。     

氢还原重量法测定氯化钯产品中的钯

系统研究了氢还原重量法测定氯化钯产品中钯含量的测定条件,考察了杂质元素对钯分析结果的误差影响。结果表明:于选定条件下,测定59.78%~60.03%含量的钯,极差、标准偏差(SD)、相对标准偏差(RSD,n=22)和重复性限(r)分别为±0.01%,0.0047%~0.0050%,0.0079%~0.0083%和0.009%~0.014%,样品加标回收率达到99.98%,钯分析结果准确、可靠、精密度高。     

Nanoporous Palladium Hydride for Electrocatalytic N2 Reduction under Ambient Conditions

The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is an alternative eco‐friendly strategy for sustainable N₂ fixation with renewable energy. However, NRR suffers from sluggish kinetics owing to difficult N₂ adsorption and N≡N cleavage. Now, nanoporous palladium hydride is reported as electrocatalyst for electrochemical N₂ reduction under ambient conditions, achieving a high ammonia yield rate of 20.4 μg h^?1 mg^?1 with a Faradaic efficiency of 43.6 % at low overpotential of 150 mV. Isotopic hydrogen labeling studies suggest the involvement of lattice hydrogen atoms in the hydride as active hydrogen source. In situ Raman analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal the reduction of energy barrier for the rate‐limiting *N₂H formation step. The unique protonation mode of palladium hydride would provide a new insight on designing efficient and robust electrocatalysts for nitrogen fixation.     

Metal‐Free Reduction of CO2 to Methoxyborane under Ambient Conditions through Borondiformate Formation

An abnormal N‐heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) based homogeneous catalyst has been used for the reduction of carbon dioxide to methoxyborane in the presence of a range of hydroboranes under ambient conditions and resulted in the highest turnover number of 6000. A catalytically active reaction intermediate, [aNHC‐H?9BBN(OCOH)₂] was structurally characterized and authenticated by NMR spectroscopy. A detailed mechanistic cycle of this catalytic process via borondiformate formation has been proposed from tandem experimental and computational experiments.     

Pivotal Role of Holes in Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction on TiO2

Evidence is provided that in a gas-solid photocatalytic reaction the removal of photogenerated holes from a titania (TiO₂) photocatalyst is always detrimental for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The coupling of the reaction to a sacrificial oxidation reaction hinders or entirely prohibits the formation of CH₄ as a reduction product. This agrees with earlier work in which the detrimental effect of oxygen-evolving cocatalysts was demonstrated. Photocatalytic alcohol oxidation or even overall water splitting proceeds in these reaction systems, but carbon-containing products from CO₂ reduction are no longer observed. H₂ addition is also detrimental, either because it scavenges holes or because it is not an efficient proton donor on TiO₂. The results are discussed in light of previously suggested reaction mechanisms for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The formation of CH₄ from CO₂ is likely not a linear sequence of reduction steps but includes oxidative elementary steps. Furthermore, new hypotheses on the origin of the required protons are suggested.     

Advances in Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Hydride Reduction of Organophosphorus Compounds

Abstract

This article describes the asymmetric synthesis of chiral organophosphorus compounds using methods of enantioselective hydride reduction and hydrogenation of corresponding unsaturated compounds. Many applications in stereoselective synthesis with reference to updated literature findings as well as the author's original research are discussed. The uses of chiral organophosphorus compounds in some asymmetric transformations leading to the formation of phosphorus analogues of important natural compounds were also presented.     

Improving the Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to CO through Immobilisation of a Molecular Re Catalyst on TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of phosphonated Re complexes, [Re(2,2′‐bipyridine‐4,4′‐bisphosphonic acid) (CO)₃(L)] (ReP; L=3‐picoline or bromide) immobilised on TiO₂ nanoparticles is reported. The heterogenised Re catalyst on the semiconductor, ReP–TiO₂ hybrid, displays an improvement in CO₂ reduction photocatalysis. A high turnover number (TON) of 48 mol_CO mol_Re^?1 is observed in DMF with the electron donor triethanolamine at λ>420 nm. ReP–TiO₂ compares favourably to previously reported homogeneous systems and is the highest TON reported to date for a CO₂‐reducing Re photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is even observed with ReP–TiO₂ at wavelengths of λ>495 nm. Infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopies confirm that an intact ReP catalyst is present on the TiO₂ surface before and during catalysis. Transient absorption spectroscopy suggests that the high activity upon heterogenisation is due to an increase in the lifetime of the immobilised anionic Re intermediate (t_{50 %}>1 s for ReP–TiO₂ compared with t_{50 %}=60 ms for ReP in solution) and immobilisation might also reduce the formation of inactive Re dimers. This study demonstrates that the activity of a homogeneous photocatalyst can be improved through immobilisation on a metal oxide surface by favourably modifying its photochemical kinetics.     

Electrolyte Effects on the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to fuels or commodity chemicals is a reaction of high interest for closing the anthropogenic carbon cycle. The role of the electrolyte is of particular interest, as the interplay between the electrocatalytic surface and the electrolyte plays an important role in determining the outcome of the CO₂ reduction reaction. Therefore, insights on electrolyte effects on the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ are pivotal in designing electrochemical devices that are able to efficiently and selectively convert CO₂ into valuable products. Here, we provide an overview of recently obtained insights on electrolyte effects and we discuss how these insights can be used as design parameters for the construction of new electrocatalytic systems.     

Are Two Metal Ions Better than One? Mono- and Binuclear α-Diimine-Re(CO)3 Complexes with Proton-Responsive Ligands in CO2 Reduction Catalysis

Here, the reduction chemistry of mono- and binuclear α-diimine-Re(CO)₃ complexes with proton responsive ligands and their application in the electrochemically-driven CO₂ reduction catalysis are presented. The work was aimed to investigate the impact of 1) two metal ions in close proximity and 2) an internal proton source on catalysis. Therefore, three different Re complexes, a binuclear one with a central phenol unit, 3 , and two mononuclear, one having a central phenol unit, 1 , and one with a methoxy unit, 2 , were utilised. All complexes are active in the CO₂-to-CO conversion and CO is always the major product. The catalytic rate constant k_cat for all three complexes is much higher and the overpotential is lower in DMF/water mixtures than in pure DMF (DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies in the absence of substrate revealed that this is due to an accelerated chloride ion loss after initial reduction in DMF/water mixtures in comparison to pure DMF. Chloride ion loss is necessary for subsequent CO₂ binding and this step is around ten times faster in the presence of water [ 2 : k^Cl(DMF)≈1.7 s⁻¹; k^Cl(DMF/H₂O)≈20 s⁻¹]. The binuclear complex 3 with a proton responsive phenol unit is more active than the mononuclear complexes. In the presence of water, the observed rate constant k_obs for 3 is four times higher than of 2 , in the absence of water even ten times. Thus, the two metal centres are beneficial for catalysis. Lastly, the investigation showed that the phenol unit has no impact on the rate of the catalysis, it even slows down the CO₂-to-CO conversion. This is due to an unproductive, competitive side reaction: After initial reduction, 1 and 3 loose either Cl⁻ or undergo a reductive OH deprotonation forming a phenolate unit. The phenolate could bind to the metal centre blocking the sixth coordination site for CO₂ activation. In DMF, O−H bond breaking and Cl⁻ ion loss have similar rate constants [ 1 : k^Cl(DMF)≈2 s⁻¹, k^OH≈1.5 s⁻¹], in water/DMF Cl⁻ loss is much faster. Thus, the effect on the catalytic rate is more pronounced in DMF. However, the acidic protons lower the overpotential of the catalysis by about 150 mV.     

Hydride Pinning Pathway in the Hydrogenation of CO2 to Formic Acid on Dimeric Tin Dioxide

Capture of CO₂ and its conversion into organic feedstocks are increasingly needed as society moves towards a renewable energy economy. Here, a hydride-assisted selective reduction pathway is proposed for the conversion of CO₂ to formic acid (FA) over SnO₂ monomers and dimers. Our density functional theory calculations infer a strong chemisorption of CO₂ on SnO₂ clusters forming a carbonate structure, whereas heterolytic cleavage of H₂ provides a new pathway for the selective reduction of CO₂ to formic acid at low overpotential. Among the two investigated pathways for reduction of CO₂ to HCOOH, the hydride pinning pathway is found promising with a unique selectivity for HCOOH. The negatively-charged hydride forms on the cluster during the dissociation of H₂ and facilitates the formation of a formate intermediate, which determines the selectivity for FA over the alternative CO and H₂ evolution reaction. It is confirmed that SnO₂ clusters exhibit a different catalytic behaviour from their surface equivalents, thus offering promise for future work investigating the reduction of CO₂ to FA via a hydride pinning pathway at low overpotential and CO₂ capturing.     

Ni2P纳米片用于光催化二氧化碳还原

Artificial photosynthesis is an ideal method for solar-to-chemical energy conversion, wherein solar energy is stored in the form of chemical bonds of solar fuels. In particular, the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ has attracted considerable attention due to its dual benefits of fossil fuel production and CO₂ pollution reduction. However, CO₂ is a comparatively stable molecule and its photoreduction is thermodynamically and kinetically challenging. Thus, the photocatalytic efficiency of CO₂ reduction is far below the level of industrial applications. Therefore, development of low-cost cocatalysts is crucial for significantly decreasing the activation energy of CO₂ to achieving efficient photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Herein, we have reported the use of a Ni₂P material that can serve as a robust cocatalyst by cooperating with a photosensitizer for the photoconversion of CO₂. An effective strategy for engineering Ni₂P in an ultrathin layered structure has been proposed to improve the CO₂ adsorption capability and decrease the CO₂ activation energy, resulting in efficient CO₂ reduction. A series of physicochemical characterizations including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to demonstrate the successful preparation of ultrathin Ni₂P nanosheets. The XRD and XPS results confirm the successful synthesis of Ni₂P from Ni(OH)₂ by a low temperature phosphidation process. According to the TEM images, the prepared Ni₂P nanosheets exhibit a 2D and near-transparent sheet-like structure, suggesting their ultrathin thickness. The AFM images further demonstrated this result and also showed that the height of the Ni₂P nanosheets is ca 1.5 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy results revealed that the Ni₂P material could efficiently promote the separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes in [Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂·6H₂O. More importantly, the Ni₂P nanosheets could more efficiently promote the charge transfer and charge separation rate of [Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂·6H₂O compared with the Ni₂P particles. In addition, the electrochemical experiments revealed that the Ni₂P nanosheets, with their high active surface area and charge conductivity, can provide more active centers for CO₂ conversion and accelerate the interfacial reaction dynamics. These results strongly suggest that the Ni₂P nanosheets are a promising material for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, and can achieve a CO generation rate of 64.8 μmol·h^-1, which is 4.4 times higher than that of the Ni₂P particles. In addition, the XRD and XPS measurements of the used Ni₂P nanosheets after the six cycles of the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction demonstrated their high stability. Overall, this study offers a new function for the 2D transition-metal phosphide catalysts in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction.     

Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction: from Discrete Molecular Catalysts to Their Integrated Catalytic Materials

Molecular catalysts (metal complexes), with molecularly defined uniform active sites and atomically precise structural tailorability allowing for regulating catalytic performance through metal- and ligand-centered engineering and elucidating reaction mechanisms via routine photoelectrochemical characterizations, have been increasingly explored for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction (ECR). However, their poor stability and low catalytic current density are undesirable for practical applications. Heterogenizing discrete molecular catalysts can potentially surmount these issues, and the resulting integrated catalysts largely share catalytical properties with their discrete molecular counterparts, which bridge the gap between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis and combine their advantages. This minireview surveys advances in design and regulation of molecular catalysts such as porphyrin, phthalocyanine, and bipyridine-based metal complexes and their integrated catalytic materials for selective ECR.     

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.     

Regulating Efficient and Selective Single-atom Catalysts for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Anchoring transition metal (TM) atoms on suitable substrates to form single-atom catalysts (SACs) is a novel approach to constructing electrocatalysts. Graphdiyne with sp−sp² hybridized carbon atoms and uniformly distributed pores have been considered as a potential carbon material for supporting metal atoms in a variety of catalytic processes. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to study the single TM atom anchoring on graphdiyne (TM₁−GDY, TM=Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co and Cu) as the catalysts for CO₂ reduction. After anchoring metal atoms on GDY, the catalytic activity of TM₁−GDY (TM=Mn, Co and Cu) for CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) are significantly improved comparing with the pristine GDY. Among the studied TM₁−GDY, Cu₁−GDY shows excellent electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction for which the product is HCOOH and the limiting potential (U_L) is −0.16 V. Mn₁−GDY and Co₁−GDY exhibit superior catalytic selectivity for CO₂ reduction to CH₄ with U_L of −0.62 and −0.34 V, respectively. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by TM₁−GDY (TM=Mn, Co and Cu) occurs on carbon atoms, while the active sites of CO₂RR are the transition metal atoms . The present work is expected to provide a solid theoretical basis for CO₂ conversion into valuable hydrocarbons.     

Strategies for Bioelectrochemical CO2 Reduction

Atmospheric CO₂ is a cheap and abundant source of carbon for synthetic applications. However, the stability of CO₂ makes its conversion to other carbon compounds difficult and has prompted the extensive development of CO₂ reduction catalysts. Bioelectrocatalysts are generally more selective, highly efficient, can operate under mild conditions, and use electricity as the sole reducing agent. Improving the communication between an electrode and a bioelectrocatalyst remains a significant area of development. Through the examples of CO₂ reduction catalyzed by electroactive enzymes and whole cells, recent advancements in this area are compared and contrasted.