Breaking K+ Concentration Limit on Cu Nanoneedles for Acidic Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Multi-Carbon Products

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) to multi-carbon products (C₂₊) in acidic electrolyte is one of the most advanced routes for tackling our current climate and energy crisis. However, the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the poor selectivity towards the valuable C₂₊ products are the major obstacles for the upscaling of these technologies. High local potassium ions (K⁺) concentration at the cathode's surface can inhibit proton-diffusion and accelerate the desirable carbon-carbon (C−C) coupling process. However, the solubility limit of potassium salts in bulk solution constrains the maximum achievable K⁺ concentration at the reaction sites and thus the overall acidic CO₂RR performance of most electrocatalysts. In this work, we demonstrate that Cu nanoneedles induce ultrahigh local K⁺ concentrations (4.22 M) – thus breaking the K⁺ solubility limit (3.5 M) – which enables a highly efficient CO₂RR in 3 M KCl at pH=1. As a result, a Faradaic efficiency of 90.69±2.15 % for C₂₊ (FE_C2+) can be achieved at 1400 mA.cm⁻², simultaneous with a single pass carbon efficiency (SPCE) of 25.49±0.82 % at a CO₂ flow rate of 7 sccm.     

Wurtzite CuGaS2 with an In-Situ-Formed CuO Layer Photocatalyzes CO2 Conversion to Ethylene with High Selectivity

We present surface reconstruction-induced C−C coupling whereby CO₂ is converted into ethylene. The wurtzite phase of CuGaS_2. undergoes in situ surface reconstruction, leading to the formation of a thin CuO layer over the pristine catalyst, which facilitates selective conversion of CO₂ to ethylene (C₂H₄). Upon illumination, the catalyst efficiently converts CO₂ to C₂H₄ with 75.1 % selectivity (92.7 % selectivity in terms of R_electron) and a 20.6 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ evolution rate. Subsequent spectroscopic and microscopic studies supported by theoretical analysis revealed operando-generated Cu²⁺, with the assistance of existing Cu⁺, functioning as an anchor for the generated *CO and thereby facilitating C−C coupling. This study demonstrates strain-induced in situ surface reconstruction leading to heterojunction formation, which finetunes the oxidation state of Cu and modulates the CO₂ reduction reaction pathway to selective formation of ethylene.     

From Biomimicking to Bioinspired Design of Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction to C1 Products

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR) is a promising approach to maintain a carbon cycle balance and produce value-added chemicals. However, CO₂RR technology is far from mature, since the conventional CO₂RR electrocatalysts suffer from low activity (leading to currents <10 mA cm⁻² in an H-cell), stability (<120 h), and selectivity. Hence, they cannot meet the requirements for commercial applications (>200 mA cm⁻², >8000 h, >90 % selectivity). Significant improvements are possible by taking inspiration from nature, considering biological organisms that efficiently catalyze the CO₂ to various products. In this minireview, we present recent examples of enzyme-inspired and enzyme-mimicking CO₂RR electrocatalysts enabling the production of C₁ products with high faradaic efficiency (FE). At present, these designs do not typically follow a methodical approach, but rather focus on isolated features of biological systems. To achieve disruptive change, we advocate a systematic design methodology that leverages fundamental mechanisms associated with desired properties in nature and adapts them to the context of engineering applications.     

二氧化碳多相催化加氢制C2及以上烃类和醇的研究进展

通过可再生能源得到的氢气将二氧化碳转化为高附加值的燃料和化学品,对于缓解全球变暖、改善生态环境和解决化石资源日益枯竭的难题具有重要的意义。通过加氢反应合成碳氢化合物,尤其是C₂₊烃类和含氧化合物愈来愈引起大家的研究兴趣。设计制备兼具二氧化碳活化和碳-碳键耦合的多功能催化剂仍然是一较大的挑战。本文总结了二氧化碳加氢合成长链烷烃、低碳烯烃、高级醇的最新研究进展,探讨了二氧化碳加氢所涉及的相关反应的热力学和动力学、反应机理和反应路径,并对现阶段报道的多相催化剂进行了归纳和分析,最后指出未来在二氧化碳加氢的多相催化过程中所面临的问题和发展方向。     

催化剂表面Cu0含量对二氧化碳加氢合成C2+醇性能的影响

通过在空气气氛下焙烧Cu@Fe-MIL-88B MOF材料制备了CuFe组分均匀分散的催化剂前驱物, 该前驱物经过不同温度下的预还原制得表面具有不同Cu和Fe价态分布的系列催化剂. 将所制备的催化剂用于固定床反应器上CO₂加氢合成C₂₊醇的性能研究, 并结合催化剂的X射线衍射(XRD)、 X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、 氢气程序升温还原(H₂-TPR)、 氮气吸附-脱附、 扫描电子显微镜(SEM) 和高分辨率透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)等表征结果发现, 较高的还原温度增加了催化剂表面低价态的Cu和Fe的含量; 当还原温度为350 ℃时, 催化剂表面Cu⁰/(Cu⁺+Cu⁰)摩尔比为73.9%, 单质Fe摩尔分数为0.40%, 催化效果最好, CO₂转化率达到6.82%, 总醇选择性为39.4%, 其中C₂₊醇的摩尔比达到95.1%.     

Cu2O-Ag Tandem Catalysts for Selective Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to C2 Products

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) to C₂ chemicals has received great attention. Here, we report the cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanocubes cooperated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles via the replacement reaction for a synergetic CO₂RR. The Cu₂O-Ag tandem catalyst exhibits an impressive Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 72.85% for C₂ products with a partial current density of 243.32 mA·cm⁻². The electrochemical experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the introduction of Ag improves the intermediate CO concentration on the catalyst surface and meanwhile reduces the C-C coupling reaction barrier energy, which is favorable for the synthesis of C₂ products.     

Insights into Electrochemical CO2 Reduction on SnS2: Main Product Switch from Hydrogen to Formate by Pulsed Potential Electrolysis

Tin disulfide (SnS₂) is a promising candidate for electrosynthesis of CO₂-to-formate while the low activity and selectivity remain a great challenge. Herein, we report the potentiostatic and pulsed potential CO₂RR performance of SnS₂ nanosheets (NSs) with tunable S-vacancy and exposure of Sn-atoms or S-atoms prepared controllably by calcination of SnS₂ at different temperatures under the H₂/Ar atmosphere. The catalytic activity of S-vacancy SnS₂ (V_s-SnS₂) is improved 1.8 times, but it exhibits an exclusive hydrogen evolution with about 100 % FE under all potentials investigated in the static conditions. The theoretical calculations reveal that the adsorption of *H on the V_s-SnS₂ surface is energetically more favorable than the carbonaceous intermediates, resulting in active site coverage that hinders the carbon intermediates from being adsorbed. Fortunately, the main product can be switched from hydrogen to formate by applying pulsed potential electrolysis benefiting from in situ formed partially oxidized SnS_2−x with the oxide phase selective to formate and the S-vacancy to hydrogen. This work highlights not only the V_s-SnS₂ NSs lead to exclusively H₂ formation, but also provides insights into the systematic design of highly selective CO₂ reduction catalysts reconstructed by pulsed potential electrolysis.     

Hydroxide Is Not a Promoter of C2+ Product Formation in the Electrochemical Reduction of CO on Copper

Highly alkaline electrolytes have been shown to improve the formation rate of C₂₊ products in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) on copper surfaces, with the assumption that higher OH^? concentrations promote the C?C coupling chemistry. Herein, by systematically varying the concentration of Na⁺ and OH^? at the same absolute electrode potential, we demonstrate that higher concentrations of cations (Na⁺), rather than OH^?, exert the main promotional effect on the production of C₂₊ products. The impact of the nature and the concentration of cations on the electrochemical reduction of CO is supported by experiments in which a fraction or all of Na⁺ is chelated by a crown ether. Chelation of Na⁺ leads to drastic decrease in the formation rate of C₂₊ products. The promotional effect of OH^? determined at the same potential on the reversible hydrogen electrode scale is likely caused by larger overpotentials at higher electrolyte pH.     

Redox Replacement of Silver on MOF-Derived Cu/C Nanoparticles on Gas Diffusion Electrodes for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Bimetallic tandem catalysts have emerged as a promising strategy to locally increase the CO flux during electrochemical CO₂ reduction, so as to maximize the rate of conversion to C−C-coupled products. Considering this, a novel Cu/C−Ag nanostructured catalyst has been prepared by a redox replacement process, in which the ratio of the two metals can be tuned by the replacement time. An optimum Cu/Ag composition with similarly sized particles showed the highest CO₂ conversion to C₂₊ products compared to non-Ag-modified gas-diffusion electrodes. Gas chromatography and in-situ Raman measurements in a CO₂ gas diffusion cell suggest the formation of top-bound linear adsorbed *CO followed by consumption of CO in the successive cascade steps, as evidenced by the increasingνC−H bands. These findings suggest that two mechanisms operate simultaneously towards the production of HCO₂H and C−C-coupled products on the Cu/Ag bimetallic surface.     

Polymeric Carbon Nitride-based Single Atom Photocatalysts for CO2 Reduction to C1 Products

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to C₁ fuels is considered to be an important way for alleviating increasingly serious energy crisis and environmental pollution. Due to the environment-friendly, simple preparation, easy formation of highly-stable metal-nitrogen(M-N_x) coordination bonds, and suitable band structure, polymeric carbon nitride-based single-atom catalysts(C₃N₄-based SACs) are expected to become a potential for CO₂ reduction under visible-light irradiation. In this review, we summarize the recent advancement on C₃N₄-based SACs for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to C₁ products, including the reaction mechanism for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to C₁ products, the structure and synthesis methods of C₃N₄-based SACs and their applications toward photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction(CO₂RR) for C₁ production. The current challenges and future opportunities of C₃N₄-based SACs for photoreduction of CO₂ are also discussed.     

Effect of Halide Anions on the Electroreduction of CO2 to C2H4: A Density Functional Theory Study**

The halide anions present in the electrolyte improve the Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) of the multi-hydrocarbon (C₂₊) products for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ over copper (Cu) catalysts. However, the mechanism behind the increased yield of C₂₊ products with the addition of halide anions remains indistinct. In this study, we analysed the mechanism by investigating the electronic structures and computing the relative free energies of intermediates formed from CO₂ to C₂H₄ on the Cu (100) facet based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results show that formyl *CHO from the hydrogenation reaction of the adsorbed *CO acts as the key intermediate, and the C−C coupling reaction occurs preferentially between *CHO and *CO with the formation of a *CHO-CO intermediate. We then propose a free-energy pathway of C₂H₄ formation. We find that the presence of halide anions significantly decreases the free energy of the *CHOCH intermediate, and enhances desorption of C₂H₄ in the order of I⁻>Cl⁻>Br⁻>F⁻. Lastly, the obtained results are rationalized through Bader charge analysis.     

Role of the Adsorbed Oxygen Species in the Selective Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Alcohols and Carbonyls on Copper Electrodes

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into fuels has gained significant attention recently as source of renewable carbon‐based fuels. The unique high selectivity of copper in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to hydrocarbons has called much interest in discovering its mechanism. In order to provide significant information about the role of oxygen in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ on Cu electrodes, the conditions of the surface structure and the composition of the Cu single crystal electrodes were controlled over time. This was achieved using pulsed voltammetry, since the pulse sequence can be programmed to guarantee reproducible initial conditions for the reaction at every fraction of time and at a given frequency. In contrast to the selectivity of CO₂ reduction using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric methods, a large selection of oxygenated hydrocarbons was found under alternating voltage conditions. Product selectivity towards the formation of oxygenated hydrocarbon was associated to the coverage of oxygen species, which is surface‐structure‐ and potential‐dependent.     

Chemical Reduction of CO2 to Different Products during Photo Catalytic Reaction on TiO2 under Diverse Conditions： an Overview

The chemical reduction of CO_2 remains a challenge with respect to the reversal of the oxidative degradation of any organic materials.The conversion of CO_2 into useful substances is essential in developing al- ternative fuels and various raw materials for different in- dustries.This also aids in preventing the continuous rise in tropospheric temperature due to the green house effect of CO_2.In this article an overview of the growth taken place so far in the field of CO_2 chemical reduction is pre- sented.The discussion comprises of photochemical meth- ods for the development of different products,viz.CO, CH_3O_H and CH_4,through chemical reduction of CO_2. This includes the use of photo catalysts,mainly TiO_2, and the role of a hole scavenger(such as 2-propanol)for this purpose.     

Electrochemical Study on Hydrogen Evolution and \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}$\end{document}\begin{document}$_\rm{2}$\end{document} Reduction on Pt Electrode in Acid Solutions with Different pH

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is the major cathodic reaction which competes \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} reduction reaction (\begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} RR) on Pt electrode. Molecular level understanding on how these two reactions interact with each other and what the key factors are of \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} RR kinetics and selectivity will be of great help in optimizing electrolysers for \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} reduction. In this work, we report our results of hydrogen evolution and \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} reduction on Pt(111) and Pt film electrodes in \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} saturated acid solution by cyclic voltammetry and infrared spectroscopy. In solution with pH > 2, the major process is HER and the interfacial pH increases abruptly during HER; \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{ad}$\end{document} is the only adsorbed intermediate detected in \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} reduction by infrared spectroscopy; the rate for \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{ad}$\end{document} formation increases with the coverage of UPD-H and reaches maximum at the onset potential for HER; the decrease of \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{ad}$\end{document} formation under HER is attributed to the available limited sites and the limited residence time for the reduction intermediate (\begin{document}$\rm{H}_\rm{ad}$\end{document}), which is necessary for \begin{document}${\rm C}\rm{O}_\rm{2}$\end{document} adsorption and reduction.