1
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Sargeant E, Rodriguez P, Calle-Vallejo F. Cation Effects on the Adsorbed Intermediates of CO 2 Electroreduction Are Systematic and Predictable. ACS Catal 2024; 14:8814-8822. [PMID: 38868103 PMCID: PMC11165452 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c00727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The electrode-electrolyte interface, and in particular the nature of the cation, has considerable effects on the activity and product selectivity of the electrochemical reduction of CO2. Therefore, to improve the electrocatalysis of this challenging reaction, it is paramount to ascertain whether cation effects on adsorbed intermediates are systematic. Here, DFT calculations are used to show that the effects of K+, Na+, and Mg2+, on single carbon CO2 reduction intermediates can either be stabilizing or destabilizing depending on the metal and the adsorbate. Because systematic trends are observed, cation effects can be accurately predicted in simple terms for a wide variety of metals, cations and adsorbed species. These results are then applied to the reduction of CO2 to CO on four different catalytic surfaces (Au, Ag, Cu, Pd) and activation of weak-binding metals is consistently observed by virtue of the stabilization of the key intermediate *COOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Sargeant
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
- Department
of Materials Science and Chemical Physics & Institute of Theoretical
and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University
of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Paramaconi Rodriguez
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Cooperative Research on Alternative Energies (CIC energiGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Alava Technology Park, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01510, Spain
- IKERBASQUE,
Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza de Euskadi 5, Bilbao 48009, Spain
| | - Federico Calle-Vallejo
- Department
of Materials Science and Chemical Physics & Institute of Theoretical
and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University
of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- IKERBASQUE,
Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza de Euskadi 5, Bilbao 48009, Spain
- Nano-Bio
Spectroscopy Group and European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility
(ETSF), Department of Advanced Materials and Polymers: Physics, Chemistry
and Technology, University of the Basque
Country UPV/EHU, Avenida Tolosa 72, San Sebastian 20018, Spain
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2
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Ma M, Seger B. Rational Design of Local Reaction Environment for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO 2 into Multicarbon Products. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401185. [PMID: 38576259 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 into multi-carbon (C2+) products provides an attractive route for storing intermittent renewable electricity as fuels and feedstocks with high energy densities. Although substantial progress has been made in selective electrosynthesis of C2+ products via engineering the catalyst, rational design of the local reaction environment in the vicinity of catalyst surface also acts as an effective approach for further enhancing the performance. Here, we discuss recent advances and pertinent challenges in the modulation of local reaction environment, encompassing local pH, the choice of the species and concentrations of cations and anions as well as local reactant/intermediate concentrations, for achieving high C2+ selectivity. In addition, mechanistic understanding in the effects of the local reaction environment is also discussed. Particularly, the important progress extracted from in situ and operando spectroscopy techniques provides insights into how local reaction environment affects C-C coupling and key intermediates formation that lead to reaction pathways toward a desired C2+ product. The possible future direction in understanding and engineering the local reaction environment is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Brian Seger
- Surface Physics and Catalysis (Surfcat) Section, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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3
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Fu Z, Ouyang Y, Wu M, Ling C, Wang J. Mechanism of surface oxygen-containing species promoted electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1410-1417. [PMID: 38480022 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Oxygen-containing species have been demonstrated to play a key role in facilitating electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR), particularly in enhancing the selectivity towards multi-carbon (C2+) products. However, the underlying promotion mechanism is still under debate, which greatly limits the rational optimization of the catalytic performance of CO2RR. Herein, taking CO2 and O2 co-electrolysis over Cu as the prototype, we successfully clarified how O2 boosts CO2RR from a new perspective by employing comprehensive theoretical simulations. Our results demonstrated that O2 in feed gas can be rapidly reduced into *OH, leading to the partial oxidation of Cu surface under reduction conditions. Surface *OH accelerates the formation of quasi-specifically adsorbed K+ due to the electrostatic interaction between *OH and K+ ions, which significantly increases the concentration of K+ near the Cu surface. These quasi-specifically adsorbed K+ ions can not only lower the C-C coupling barriers but also promote the hydrogenation of CO2 to improve the CO yield rate, which are responsible for the remarkably enhanced efficiency of C2+ products. During the whole process, O2 co-electrolysis plays an indispensable role in stabilizing surface *OH. This mechanism can be also adopted to understand the effect of high pH of electrolyte and residual O in oxide-derived Cu (OD-Cu) on the catalytic efficiency towards C2+ products. Therefore, our work provides new insights into strategies for improving C2+ products on the Cu-based catalysts, i.e., maintaining partial oxidation of surface under reduction conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanzhao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 21189, China
| | - Yixin Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 21189, China
| | - Mingliang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 21189, China
| | - Chongyi Ling
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 21189, China.
| | - Jinlan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 21189, China.
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4
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Tang B, Fang Y, Zhu S, Bai Q, Li X, Wei L, Li Z, Zhu C. Tuning hydrogen bond network connectivity in the electric double layer with cations. Chem Sci 2024; 15:7111-7120. [PMID: 38756806 PMCID: PMC11095383 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06904d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen bond (H-bond) network connectivity in electric double layers (EDLs) is of paramount importance for interfacial HER/HOR electrocatalytic processes. However, it remains unclear whether the cation-specific effect on H-bond network connectivity in EDLs exists. Herein, we report simulation evidence from ab initio molecular dynamics that cations at Pt(111)/water interfaces can tune the structure and the connectivity of H-bond networks in EDLs. As the surface charge density σ becomes more negative, we show that the connectivity of the H-bond networks in EDLs of the Na+ and Ca2+ systems decreases markedly; in stark contrast, the connectivity of the H-bond networks in EDLs of the Mg2+ system increases slightly. Further analysis revealed that the interplay between the hydration of cations and the interfacial water structure plays a key role in the connectivity of H-bond networks in EDLs. These findings highlight the key roles of cations in EDLs and electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Yeguang Fang
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology Beijing 100190 China
| | - Shuang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Qi Bai
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Xiaojiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Laiyang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui 230026 P. R. China
| | - Chongqin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
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5
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Dang H, Guan B, Chen J, Ma Z, Chen Y, Zhang J, Guo Z, Chen L, Hu J, Yi C, Yao S, Huang Z. Research on carbon dioxide capture materials used for carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage technology: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:33259-33302. [PMID: 38698095 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33370-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, climate change has increasingly become one of the major challenges facing mankind today, seriously threatening the survival and sustainable development of mankind. Dramatically increasing carbon dioxide concentrations are thought to cause a severe greenhouse effect, leading to severe and sustained global warming, associated climate instability and unwelcome natural disasters, melting glaciers and extreme weather patterns. The treatment of flue gas from thermal power plants uses carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, one of the most promising current methods to accomplish significant CO2 emission reduction. In order to implement the technological and financial system of CO2 capture, which is the key technology of CCUS technology and accounts for 70-80% of the overall cost of CCUS technology, it is crucial to create more effective adsorbents. Nowadays, with the development and application of various carbon dioxide capture materials, it is necessary to review and summarize carbon dioxide capture materials in time. In this paper, the main technologies of CO2 capture are reviewed, with emphasis on the latest research status of CO2 capture materials, such as amines, zeolites, alkali metals, as well as emerging MOFs and carbon nanomaterials. More and more research on CO2 capture materials has used a variety of improved methods, which have achieved high CO2 capture performance. For example, doping of layered double hydroxides (LDH) with metal atoms significantly increases the active site on the surface of the material, which has a significant impact on improving the CO2 capture capacity and performance stability of LDH. Although many carbon capture materials have been developed, high cost and low technology scale remain major obstacles to CO2 capture. Future research should focus on designing low-cost, high-availability carbon capture materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Dang
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Bin Guan
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Junyan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zeren Ma
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yujun Chen
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jinhe Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zelong Guo
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jingqiu Hu
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Chao Yi
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shunyu Yao
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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6
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Zhao Y, Merino-Garcia I, Albo J, Kaiser A. A Zero-Gap Gas Phase Photoelectrolyzer for CO 2 Reduction with Porous Carbon Supported Photocathodes. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024:e202400518. [PMID: 38687205 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202400518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
A modified Metal-Organic Framework UiO-66-NH2-based photocathode in a zero-gap gas phase photoelectrolyzer was applied for CO2 reduction. Four types of porous carbon fiber layers with different wettability were employed to tailor the local environment of the cathodic surface reactions, optimizing activity and selectivity towards formate, methanol, and ethanol. Results are explained by mass transport through the different type and arrangement of carbon fiber support layers in the photocathodes and the resulting local environment at the UiO-66-NH2 catalyst. The highest energy-to-fuel conversion efficiency of 1.06 % towards hydrocarbons was achieved with the most hydrophobic carbon fiber (H23C2). The results are a step further in understanding how the design and composition of the photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical electrolyzers can impact the CO2 reduction efficiency and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhao
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ivan Merino-Garcia
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n., 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - Jonathan Albo
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n., 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - Andreas Kaiser
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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7
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Zeng M, Fang W, Cen Y, Zhang X, Hu Y, Xia BY. Reaction Environment Regulation for Electrocatalytic CO 2 Reduction in Acids. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202404574. [PMID: 38638104 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a sustainable route for converting CO2 into value-added fuels and feedstocks, advancing a carbon-neutral economy. The electrolyte critically influences CO2 utilization, reaction rate and product selectivity. While typically conducted in neutral/alkaline aqueous electrolytes, the CO2RR faces challenges due to (bi)carbonate formation and its crossover to the anolyte, reducing efficiency and stability. Acidic media offer promise by suppressing these processes, but the low Faradaic efficiency, especially for multicarbon (C2+) products, and poor electrocatalyst stability persist. The effective regulation of the reaction environment at the cathode is essential to favor the CO2RR over the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and improve long-term stability. This review examines progress in the acidic CO2RR, focusing on reaction environment regulation strategies such as electrocatalyst design, electrode modification and electrolyte engineering to promote the CO2RR. Insights into the reaction mechanisms via in situ/operando techniques and theoretical calculations are discussed, along with critical challenges and future directions in acidic CO2RR technology, offering guidance for developing practical systems for the carbon-neutral community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zeng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Micro-Nanoelectronic Materials and Devices, School of Microelectronics, Hubei University, 368 Youyi Road, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Wensheng Fang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yiren Cen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Micro-Nanoelectronic Materials and Devices, School of Microelectronics, Hubei University, 368 Youyi Road, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Micro-Nanoelectronic Materials and Devices, School of Microelectronics, Hubei University, 368 Youyi Road, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yongming Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Micro-Nanoelectronic Materials and Devices, School of Microelectronics, Hubei University, 368 Youyi Road, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Bao Yu Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
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8
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Hübner JL, Lucchetti LEB, Nong HN, Sharapa DI, Paul B, Kroschel M, Kang J, Teschner D, Behrens S, Studt F, Knop-Gericke A, Siahrostami S, Strasser P. Cation Effects on the Acidic Oxygen Reduction Reaction at Carbon Surfaces. ACS ENERGY LETTERS 2024; 9:1331-1338. [PMID: 38633991 PMCID: PMC11019649 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.3c02743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a widely used green oxidant. Until now, research has focused on the development of efficient catalysts for the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e- ORR). However, electrolyte effects on the 2e- ORR have remained little understood. We report a significant effect of alkali metal cations (AMCs) on carbons in acidic environments. The presence of AMCs at a glassy carbon electrode shifts the half wave potential from -0.48 to -0.22 VRHE. This cation-induced enhancement effect exhibits a uniquely sensitive on/off switching behavior depending on the voltammetric protocol. Voltammetric and in situ X-ray photoemission spectroscopic evidence is presented, supporting a controlling role of the potential of zero charge of the catalytic enhancement. Density functional theory calculations associate the enhancement with stabilization of the *OOH key intermediate as a result of locally induced field effects from the AMCs. Finally, we developed a refined reaction mechanism for the H2O2 production in the presence of AMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. L. Hübner
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - L. E. B. Lucchetti
- Centro
de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Federal
University of ABC, Bairro Bangu, 09210-170 Santo André, Brazil
| | - H. N. Nong
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - D. I. Sharapa
- Institute
of Catalysis Research and Technology, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - B. Paul
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - M. Kroschel
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - J. Kang
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - D. Teschner
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institute
of the Max-Planck-Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Department
of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max-Planck-Institute
for Chemical Energy Conversion, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - S. Behrens
- Institute
of Catalysis Research and Technology, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - F. Studt
- Institute
of Catalysis Research and Technology, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - A. Knop-Gericke
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institute
of the Max-Planck-Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Department
of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max-Planck-Institute
for Chemical Energy Conversion, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - S. Siahrostami
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A1S6, Canada
| | - P. Strasser
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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9
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O'Brien CP, Miao RK, Shayesteh Zeraati A, Lee G, Sargent EH, Sinton D. CO 2 Electrolyzers. Chem Rev 2024; 124:3648-3693. [PMID: 38518224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
CO2 electrolyzers have progressed rapidly in energy efficiency and catalyst selectivity toward valuable chemical feedstocks and fuels, such as syngas, ethylene, ethanol, and methane. However, each component within these complex systems influences the overall performance, and the further advances needed to realize commercialization will require an approach that considers the whole process, with the electrochemical cell at the center. Beyond the cell boundaries, the electrolyzer must integrate with upstream CO2 feeds and downstream separation processes in a way that minimizes overall product energy intensity and presents viable use cases. Here we begin by describing upstream CO2 sources, their energy intensities, and impurities. We then focus on the cell, the most common CO2 electrolyzer system architectures, and each component within these systems. We evaluate the energy savings and the feasibility of alternative approaches including integration with CO2 capture, direct conversion of flue gas and two-step conversion via carbon monoxide. We evaluate pathways that minimize downstream separations and produce concentrated streams compatible with existing sectors. Applying this comprehensive upstream-to-downstream approach, we highlight the most promising routes, and outlook, for electrochemical CO2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P O'Brien
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Rui Kai Miao
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Ali Shayesteh Zeraati
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Geonhui Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Edward H Sargent
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - David Sinton
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
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10
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Vos R, Koper MTM. Nickel as Electrocatalyst for CO (2) Reduction: Effect of Temperature, Potential, Partial Pressure, and Electrolyte Composition. ACS Catal 2024; 14:4432-4440. [PMID: 38601778 PMCID: PMC11002821 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction on Ni has recently been shown to have the unique ability to produce longer hydrocarbon chains in small but measurable amounts. However, the effects of the many parameters of this reaction remain to be studied in more detail. Here, we have investigated the effect of temperature, bulk CO2 concentration, potential, the reactant, cations, and anions on the formation of hydrocarbons via a chain growth mechanism on Ni. We show that temperature increases the activity but also the formation of coke, which deactivates the catalyst. The selectivity and thus the chain growth probability is mainly affected by the potential and the electrolyte composition. Remarkably, CO reduction shows lower activity but a higher chain growth probability than CO2 reduction. We conclude that hydrogenation is likely to be the rate-determining step and hypothesize that this could happen either by *CO hydrogenation or by termination of the hydrocarbon chain. These insights open the way to further development and optimization of Ni for electrochemical CO2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaël
E. Vos
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O.Box 9502, 2300
RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marc T. M. Koper
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O.Box 9502, 2300
RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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11
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Kelly M, Yan B, Lucky C, Schreier M. Electrochemical Synthesis of Sound: Hearing the Electrochemical Double Layer. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:595-602. [PMID: 38559295 PMCID: PMC10979475 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c01253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical double layers (EDLs) govern the operation of batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical sensors, and electrolyzers. However, their invisible nature makes their properties and function difficult to conceptualize, creating an impediment to the broader understanding of double-layer function required for future technologies in energy storage and chemical synthesis. To render the behavior of electrochemical interfaces more intuitive, we made the rearrangement of interfacial components audible by employing the EDL as a variable element in a relaxation oscillator circuit. Connecting the circuit to a speaker generated an audible output corresponding to the change in potential resulting from EDL rearrangement. Variations in the applied voltage, electrolyte concentration and identity, as well as in the electrode material, yielded audible frequency variations that provide an intuitive understanding of EDL behavior. We expect that hearing the trends in behavior will provide a helpful and alternative method for understanding molecular movement at the electrochemical interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Kelly
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Bill Yan
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Christine Lucky
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Marcel Schreier
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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12
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Gautam M, Nkurunziza F, Mulvehill MC, Uttarwar SS, Hofsommer DT, Grapperhaus CA, Spurgeon JM. Two-Membrane Dual Non-Aqueous/Aqueous Electrolyte Flow Cell Operation for Electrochemical Conversion of CO 2 to Methyl Formate. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202301337. [PMID: 37931228 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Recently, tandem cathodic reactions have been demonstrated in non-aqueous solvents to couple CO2 reduction to a secondary reaction to create novel species that are not produced in aqueous CO2 electrolysis. One reaction that can be performed with high selectivity and durability is the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid and in-situ esterification with methanol to produce methyl formate. However, the translation to a high-performance flow electrolyzer is far from trivial, as the non-aqueous catholyte leads to reactor challenges including flooding the gas diffusion electrode. Here, a two-membrane flow electrolyzer with both anion and cation exchange membranes was used with flowing methanol catholyte and aqueous anolyte. This design prevented methanol from flooding the cathode, which was a pervasive limiting issue for electrolyzers with a single membrane. Methyl formate production at 42.9 % faradaic efficiency was achieved with pure methanol in a flow electrolyzer with stable performance beyond 80 min. However, low-water-content catholyte compositions also led to increased cell resistance and lower operating current densities. Thus, with the present ionomer materials there is a tradeoff between methyl formate selectivity and current density depending on water concentration, highlighting a need for new ionomers tailored for desirable non-aqueous solvents such as methanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Gautam
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, USA
| | - Francois Nkurunziza
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, USA
| | - Matthew C Mulvehill
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, USA
| | - Sandesh S Uttarwar
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, USA
| | - Dillon T Hofsommer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, 2320 South Brook Street, 40292, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Craig A Grapperhaus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, 2320 South Brook Street, 40292, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Joshua M Spurgeon
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, USA
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13
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Baidoun R, Liu G, Kim D. Recent advances in the role of interfacial liquids in electrochemical reactions. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:5903-5925. [PMID: 38440946 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06092f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The interfacial liquid, situated in proximity to an electrode or catalyst, plays a vital role in determining the activity and selectivity of crucial electrochemical reactions, including hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution/reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction. Thus, there has been a growing interest in better understanding the behavior and the catalytic effect of its constituents. This minireview examines the impact of interfacial liquids on electrocatalysis, specifically the effects of water molecules and ionic species present at the interface. How the structure of interfacial water, distinct from the bulk, can affect charge transfer kinetics and transport of species is presented. Furthermore, how cations and anions (de)stabilize intermediates and transition states, compete for adsorption with reaction species, and act as local environment modifiers including pH and the surrounding solvent structure are described in detail. These effects can promote or inhibit reactions in various ways. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights for tailoring interfacial liquids to optimize electrochemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Baidoun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Gexu Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dohyung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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14
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Gardner A, Neri G, Siritanaratkul B, Jang H, Saeed KH, Donaldson PM, Cowan AJ. Potential Dependent Reorientation Controlling Activity of a Molecular Electrocatalyst. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:7130-7134. [PMID: 38441442 PMCID: PMC10958496 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The activity of molecular electrocatalysts depends on the interplay of electrolyte composition near the electrode surface, the composition and morphology of the electrode surface, and the electric field at the electrode-electrolyte interface. This interplay is challenging to study and often overlooked when assessing molecular catalyst activity. Here, we use surface specific vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy to study the solvent and potential dependent activation of Mo(bpy)(CO)4, a CO2 reduction catalyst, at a polycrystalline Au electrode. We find that the parent complex undergoes potential dependent reorientation at the electrode surface when a small amount of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is present. This preactivates the complex, resulting in greater yields at less negative potentials, of the active electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian
M. Gardner
- Department
of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- Early
Career Laser Laboratory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Neri
- Department
of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Bhavin Siritanaratkul
- Department
of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Hansaem Jang
- Department
of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Khezar H. Saeed
- Department
of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M. Donaldson
- Central
Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J. Cowan
- Department
of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
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15
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Fan Q, Bao G, Liu H, Xu Y, Chen X, Zhang X, Li K, Kang P, Zhang S, Ma X. Boosting CO 2 electrocatalysis through electrical double layer regulations. iScience 2024; 27:109060. [PMID: 38375223 PMCID: PMC10875555 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Interfacial investigation for fine-tuning microenvironment has recently emerged as a promising method to optimize the electrochemical CO2 reduction system. The electrical double layer located at the electrode-electrolyte interface presents a particularly significant impact on electrochemical reactions. However, its effect on the activity and selectivity of CO2 electrocatalysis remains poorly understood. Here, we utilized two-dimensional mica flakes, a material with a high dielectric constant, to modify the electrical double layer of Ag nanoparticles. This modification resulted in a significant enhancement of current densities for CO2 reduction and an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 98% for CO production. Our mechanistic investigations suggest that the enhancement of the electrical double layer capacitance through mica modification enriched local CO2 concentration near the reaction interface, thus facilitating CO2 electroreduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Fan
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Guangxu Bao
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Hai Liu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Yihan Xu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chen
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiangrui Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Kai Li
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Peng Kang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xinbin Ma
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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16
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Pastor E, Lian Z, Xia L, Ecija D, Galán-Mascarós JR, Barja S, Giménez S, Arbiol J, López N, García de Arquer FP. Complementary probes for the electrochemical interface. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:159-178. [PMID: 38388837 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00575-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The functions of electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices rely on the dynamic junction between a solid and a fluid: the electrochemical interface (EI). Many experimental techniques have been developed to probe the EI, but they provide only a partial picture. Building a full mechanistic understanding requires combining multiple probes, either successively or simultaneously. However, such combinations lead to important technical and theoretical challenges. In this Review, we focus on complementary optoelectronic probes and modelling to address the EI across different timescales and spatial scales - including mapping surface reconstruction, reactants and reaction modulators during operation. We discuss how combining these probes can facilitate a predictive design of the EI when closely integrated with theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest Pastor
- CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes), University of Rennes, Rennes, France.
- CNRS, Univ Rennes, DYNACOM (Dynamical Control of Materials Laboratory) - IRL2015, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Zan Lian
- ICIQ-Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Lu Xia
- ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Ecija
- IMDEA Nanoscience, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Ramón Galán-Mascarós
- ICIQ-Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Tarragona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Barja
- Department of Polymers and Advanced Materials, Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM), University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sixto Giménez
- Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM) Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Jordi Arbiol
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Núria López
- ICIQ-Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Tarragona, Spain
| | - F Pelayo García de Arquer
- ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Liu H, Yan T, Tan S, Sun L, Zhang Z, Hu S, Li SH, Kang X, Lei Y, Jiang L, Hou T, Liu L, Yu Q, Liu B. Observation on Microenvironment Changes of Dynamic Catalysts in Acidic CO 2 Reduction. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5333-5342. [PMID: 38369932 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) in acid can solve alkalinity issues while highly corrosive and reductive acidic electrolytes usually cause catalyst degradation. Inhibiting catalyst degradation is crucial for the stability of acidic CO2RR. Here, we reveal the microenvironment changes of dynamic Bi-based catalysts and develop a pulse chronoamperometry (CA) strategy to improve the stability of acidic CO2RR. In situ fluorescence mappings show that the local pH changes from neutral to acid, and the in situ Raman spectra reveal the dynamic evolution of interfacial water structures in the microenvironment. We propose that the surface charge properties of dynamic catalysts affect the competitive adsorption of K+ and protons, thereby causing the differences in local pH and CO2RR intermediate adsorption. We also develop a pulse CA strategy to reactivate catalysts, and the stability of acidic CO2RR is improved by 2 orders of magnitude for 100 h operation, which is higher than most reports on the stability of acidic CO2RR. This work gives insights on how microenvironment changes affecting the stability of acidic CO2RR, and provides guidance for designing stable catalysts in acidic electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heming Liu
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Tian Yan
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Shendong Tan
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Linxuan Sun
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
- Center of Double Helix, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Shuqi Hu
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Shao-Hai Li
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Xin Kang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Yu Lei
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
- Center of Double Helix, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Lu Jiang
- Watt Lab, Central Research Institute, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518129, P. R. China
| | - Tingzheng Hou
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Le Liu
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Qiangmin Yu
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Bilu Liu
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
- Institute of Materials Research, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
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18
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Yang X, Ding H, Li S, Zheng S, Li JF, Pan F. Cation-Induced Interfacial Hydrophobic Microenvironment Promotes the C-C Coupling in Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5532-5542. [PMID: 38362877 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) toward C2 products is a promising way for the clean energy economy. Modulating the structure of the electric double layer (EDL), especially the interfacial water and cation type, is a useful strategy to promote C-C coupling, but atomic understanding lags far behind the experimental observations. Herein, we investigate the combined effect of interfacial water and alkali metal cations on the C-C coupling at the Cu(100) electrode/electrolyte interface using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations with a constrained MD and slow-growth approach. We observe a linear correlation between the water-adsorbate stabilization effect, which manifests as hydrogen bonds, and the corresponding alleviation in the C-C coupling free energy. The role of a larger cation, compared to a smaller cation (e.g., K+ vs Li+), lies in its ability to approach the interface through desolvation and coordinates with the *CO+*CO moiety, partially substituting the hydrogen-bonding stabilizing effect of interfacial water. Although this only results in a marginal reduction of the energy barrier for C-C coupling, it creates a local hydrophobic environment with a scarcity of hydrogen bonds owing to its great ionic radius, impeding the hydrogen of surrounding interfacial water to approach the oxygen of the adsorbed *CO. This skillfully circumvents the further hydrogenation of *CO toward the C1 pathway, serving as the predominant factor through which a larger cation facilitates C-C coupling. This study unveils a comprehensive atomic mechanism of the cation-water-adsorbate interactions that can facilitate the further optimization of the electrolyte and EDL for efficient C-C coupling in CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhe Yang
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Haowen Ding
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shunning Li
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shisheng Zheng
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, College of Physical Science and Technology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Feng Pan
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
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19
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Liu X, Koper MTM. Tuning the Interfacial Reaction Environment for CO 2 Electroreduction to CO in Mildly Acidic Media. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5242-5251. [PMID: 38350099 PMCID: PMC10910518 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
A considerable carbon loss of CO2 electroreduction in neutral and alkaline media severely limits its industrial viability as a result of the homogeneous reaction of CO2 and OH- under interfacial alkalinity. Here, to mitigate homogeneous reactions, we conducted CO2 electroreduction in mildly acidic media. By modulating the interfacial reaction environment via multiple electrolyte effects, the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction is suppressed, leading to a faradaic efficiency of over 80% for CO on the planar Au electrode. Using the rotating ring-disk electrode technique, the Au ring constitutes an in situ CO collector and pH sensor, enabling the recording of the Faradaic efficiency and monitoring of interfacial reaction environment while CO2 reduction takes place on the Au disk. The dominant branch of hydrogen evolution reaction switches from the proton reduction to the water reduction as the interfacial environment changes from acidic to alkaline. By comparison, CO2 reduction starts within the proton reduction region as the interfacial environment approaches near-neutral conditions. Thereafter, proton reduction decays, while CO2 reduction takes place, as the protons are increasingly consumed by the OH- electrogenerated from CO2 reduction. CO2 reduction reaches its maximum Faradaic efficiency just before water reduction initiates. Slowing the mass transport lowers the proton reduction current, while CO2 reduction is hardly influenced. In contrast, appropriate protic anion, e.g., HSO4- in our case, and weakly hydrated cations, e.g., K+, accelerate CO2 reduction, with the former providing extra proton flux but higher local pH, and the latter stabilizing the *CO2- intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Liu
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marc T. M. Koper
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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20
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Mao X, He T, Kour G, Yin H, Ling C, Gao G, Jin Y, Liu Q, O'Mullane AP, Du A. Computational electrocatalysis beyond conventional hydrogen electrode model: CO 2 reduction to C 2 species on copper facilitated by dynamically formed solvent halide ions at the solid-liquid interface. Chem Sci 2024; 15:3330-3338. [PMID: 38425530 PMCID: PMC10901514 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06471a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The reduction of CO2 into value-added chemicals and fuels has been actively studied as a promising strategy for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. However, the dilemma for the experimentalist in choosing an appropriate reaction medium and neglecting the effect of solvent ions when using a simple thermochemical model, normally leads to the disagreement between experimental observations and theoretical calculations. In this work, by considering the effects of both the anion and cation, a more realistic CO2 reduction environment at the solid-liquid interface between copper and solvent ions has been systematically studied by using ab initio molecular dynamics and density functional theory. We revealed that the co-occurrence of alkali ions (K+) and halide ions (F-, Cl-, Br-, and I-) in the electric double layer (EDL) can enhance the adsorption of CO2 by more than 0.45 eV compared to that in pure water, and the calculated energy barrier for CO-CO coupling also decreases 0.32 eV in the presence of I ion on a negatively charged copper electrode. The hydrated ions can modulate the distribution of the charge near the solid-liquid interface, which significantly promotes CO2 reduction and meanwhile impedes the hydrogen evolution reaction. Therefore, our work unveils the significant role of halide ions at the electrode-electrolyte interface for promoting CO2 reduction on copper electrode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Mao
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Centre for Material Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia
| | - Tianwei He
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Materials & Technology, National Center for International Research on Photoelectric and Energy Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University Kunming 650091 China
| | - Gurpreet Kour
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Centre for Material Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia
| | - Hanqing Yin
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Centre for Material Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia
| | - Chongyi Ling
- School of Physics, Southeast University Nanjing 211189 China
| | - Guoping Gao
- MOE Key Lab for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 China
| | - Yonggang Jin
- CSIRO Mineral Resources 1 Technology Court Pullenvale QLD 4069 Australia
| | - Qingju Liu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Materials & Technology, National Center for International Research on Photoelectric and Energy Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Yunnan University Kunming 650091 China
| | - Anthony P O'Mullane
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Centre for Material Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia
| | - Aijun Du
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Centre for Material Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia
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21
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Fan J, Pan B, Wu J, Shao C, Wen Z, Yan Y, Wang Y, Li Y. Immobilized Tetraalkylammonium Cations Enable Metal-free CO 2 Electroreduction in Acid and Pure Water. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317828. [PMID: 38165224 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2 RR) provides an efficient pathway to convert CO2 into desirable products, yet its commercialization is greatly hindered by the huge energy cost due to CO2 loss and regeneration. Performing CO2 RR under acidic conditions containing alkali cations can potentially address the issue, but still causes (bi)carbonate deposition at high current densities, compromising product Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) in present-day acid-fed membrane electrode assemblies. Herein, we present a strategy using a positively charged polyelectrolyte-poly(diallyldimethylammonium) immobilized on graphene oxide via electrostatic interactions to displace alkali cations. This enables a FE of 85 %, a carbon efficiency of 93 %, and an energy efficiency (EE) of 35 % for CO at 100 mA cm-2 on modified Ag catalysts in acid. In a pure-water-fed reactor, we obtained a 78 % CO FE with a 30 % EE at 100 mA cm-2 at 40 °C. All the performance metrics are comparable to or even exceed those attained in the presence of alkali metal cations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Fan
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Binbin Pan
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jialing Wu
- Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (MIMSE), MUST-SUDA Joint Research Center for Advanced Functional Materials, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, 999078, Macau SAR, China
| | - Chaochen Shao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhaoyu Wen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yuchen Yan
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yanguang Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (MIMSE), MUST-SUDA Joint Research Center for Advanced Functional Materials, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, 999078, Macau SAR, China
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22
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Bai X, Chen C, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Zheng Y, Jiao Y. Accelerating the Reaction Kinetics of CO 2 Reduction to Multi-Carbon Products by Synergistic Effect between Cation and Aprotic Solvent on Copper Electrodes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317512. [PMID: 38168478 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Improving the selectivity of electrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products (C2+ ) is an important and highly challenging topic. In this work, we propose and validate an effective strategy to improve C2+ selectivity on Cu electrodes, by introducing a synergistic effect between cation (Na+ ) and aprotic solvent (DMSO) to the electrolyte. Based on constant potential ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we first revealed that Na+ facilitates C-C coupling while inhibits CH3 OH/CH4 products via reducing the water network connectivity near the electrode. Furthermore, the water network connectivity was further decreased by introducing an aprotic solvent DMSO, leading to suppression of both C1 production and hydrogen evolution reaction with minimal effect on *OCCO* hydrogenation. The synergistic effect enhancing C2 selectivity was also experimentally verified through electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the Faradaic efficiency of C2 increases from 9.3 % to 57 % at 50 mA/cm2 under a mixed electrolyte of NaHCO3 and DMSO compared to a pure NaHCO3 , which can significantly enhance the selectivity of the C2 product. Therefore, our discovery provides an effective electrolyte-based strategy for tuning CO2 RR selectivity through modulating the microenvironment at the electrode-electrolyte interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowan Bai
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Chaojie Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Xunhua Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Yehui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Yao Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Yan Jiao
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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23
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Wang B, Wang M, Fan Z, Ma C, Xi S, Chang LY, Zhang M, Ling N, Mi Z, Chen S, Leow WR, Zhang J, Wang D, Lum Y. Nanocurvature-induced field effects enable control over the activity of single-atom electrocatalysts. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1719. [PMID: 38409205 PMCID: PMC10897157 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46175-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuning interfacial electric fields provides a powerful means to control electrocatalyst activity. Importantly, electric fields can modify adsorbate binding energies based on their polarizability and dipole moment, and hence operate independently of scaling relations that fundamentally limit performance. However, implementation of such a strategy remains challenging because typical methods modify the electric field non-uniformly and affects only a minority of active sites. Here we discover that uniformly tunable electric field modulation can be achieved using a model system of single-atom catalysts (SACs). These consist of M-N4 active sites hosted on a series of spherical carbon supports with varying degrees of nanocurvature. Using in-situ Raman spectroscopy with a Stark shift reporter, we demonstrate that a larger nanocurvature induces a stronger electric field. We show that this strategy is effective over a broad range of SAC systems and electrocatalytic reactions. For instance, Ni SACs with optimized nanocurvature achieved a high CO partial current density of ~400 mA cm-2 at >99% Faradaic efficiency for CO2 reduction in acidic media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqing Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ziting Fan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua, China
| | - Shibo Xi
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore
| | - Lo-Yueh Chang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Mingsheng Zhang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ning Ling
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ziyu Mi
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shenghua Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua, China
| | - Wan Ru Leow
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jia Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Republic of Singapore
| | - Dingsheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua, China
| | - Yanwei Lum
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore.
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore.
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24
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Wu T, Bu H, Tao S, Ma M. Determination of local pH in CO 2 electroreduction. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:3926-3935. [PMID: 38323700 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06357g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 and H2O into fuels and valuable chemicals has gained significant interest as a prospective method for the storage of renewable energy and the utilization of captured CO2. In the process of electroreduction of CO2, pH near the surface of the electrocatalysts plays an important role in the catalytic selectivity and activity. However, to elucidate the local pH effect on the fundamental reaction mechanism and modify the catalytic CO2 reduction performance, the localized pH determination method is highly desirable. In this minireview, we present the recent advances in the strategies of the local pH probe for CO2 electrolysis in both H-type cell reactors and GDE-type flow electrolyzers, followed with a better understanding of the local reaction environment in CO2 reduction. Additionally, pertinent advantages and drawbacks of the different localized pH probe techniques are discussed, and perspectives on future research efforts are also provided in this minireview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Hangyu Bu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shuaikang Tao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ming Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China.
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25
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Banerji LC, Jang H, Gardner AM, Cowan AJ. Studying the cation dependence of CO 2 reduction intermediates at Cu by in situ VSFG spectroscopy. Chem Sci 2024; 15:2889-2897. [PMID: 38404396 PMCID: PMC10882457 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05295h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The nature of the electrolyte cation is known to have a significant impact on electrochemical reduction of CO2 at catalyst|electrolyte interfaces. An understanding of the underlying mechanism responsible for catalytic enhancement as the alkali metal cation group is descended is key to guide catalyst development. Here, we use in situ vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy to monitor changes in the binding modes of the CO intermediate at the electrochemical interface of a polycrystalline Cu electrode during CO2 reduction as the electrolyte cation is varied. A CObridge mode is observed only when using Cs+, a cation that is known to facilitate CO2 reduction on Cu, supporting the proposed involvement of CObridge sites in CO coupling mechanisms during CO2 reduction. Ex situ measurements show that the cation dependent CObridge modes correlate with morphological changes of the Cu surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam C Banerji
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Hansaem Jang
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Adrian M Gardner
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
- Early Career Laser Laboratory, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Alexander J Cowan
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
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26
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Adnan MA, Nabil SK, Kannimuthu K, Kibria MG. Modulating Cation and Water Transports for Enhanced CO Electrolysis via Ionomer Coating. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202301425. [PMID: 37922209 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Electrification of the chemical industry has been considered an enabler for energy transition on a massive scale. In this context, carbon monoxide electroreduction (COR) to produce multi-carbon (C2+ ) products is considered one of the forefront emerging technologies. The key challenge in COR comes from the excessive cation crossover to the cathode via electromigration and water diffusion, which limits CO availability and impedes product selectivity. Commercial anion exchange membrane (AEM) suppresses the electromigration of cations, however, suffers from water diffusion which facilitates cation crossover. Here, we tackled these problems emerging from cation crossover and water diffusion by directly depositing an ultrathin Nafion ionomer on the cathode (sputtered Cu) surface. Our approach enables full-cell energy efficiency of 21 % for converting CO into ethylene (C2 H4 ) at 100 mA/cm2 with over 200 hours of stable operation. We also exhibited record high energy efficiency for ethanol (C2 H5 OH) production with CO-to-C2 H5 OH electrolysis efficiency of 17 %. This approach to directly depositing ultrathin ionomer on the cathode to enhance system performance may benefit other electrochemical systems to overcome challenges associated with scalability, stability, and efficiency to produce high-value chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muflih A Adnan
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Islamic University of Indonesia, Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, 55584, Indonesia
| | - Shariful Kibria Nabil
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Karthick Kannimuthu
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Md Golam Kibria
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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27
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Lounasvuori M, Zhang T, Gogotsi Y, Petit T. Tuning the Microenvironment of Water Confined in Ti 3C 2T x MXene by Cation Intercalation. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2024; 128:2803-2813. [PMID: 38414833 PMCID: PMC10895661 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The local microenvironment has recently been found to play a major role in the electrocatalytic activity of nanomaterials. Modulating the microenvironment by adding alkali metal cations into the electrolyte can be used to either suppress hydrogen or oxygen evolution, thereby extending the electrochemical window of energy storage systems, or to tune the selectivity of electrocatalysts. MXenes are a large family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides that have shown potential for use in electrochemical energy storage applications. Due to their negatively charged surfaces, MXenes can accommodate cations and water molecules between the layers. Nevertheless, the nature of the aqueous microenvironment in the MXene interlayer space is poorly understood. Here, we apply Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to probe the hydrogen bonding of intercalated water in Ti3C2Tx as a function of intercalated cation and relative humidity. Substantial changes in the FTIR spectra after cation exchange demonstrate that the hydrogen bonding of water molecules confined between the MXene layers is strongly cation-dependent. Furthermore, the IR absorbance of the confined water correlates with resistivity estimated by 4-point probe measurements and interlayer distance calculated from XRD patterns. This work demonstrates that cation intercalation strongly modulates the confined microenvironment, which can be used to tune the activity or selectivity of electrochemical reactions in the interlayer space of MXenes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mailis Lounasvuori
- Nanoscale Solid-Liquid Interfaces, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Teng Zhang
- A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Yury Gogotsi
- A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Tristan Petit
- Nanoscale Solid-Liquid Interfaces, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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28
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Chen C, Jin H, Wang P, Sun X, Jaroniec M, Zheng Y, Qiao SZ. Local reaction environment in electrocatalysis. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2022-2055. [PMID: 38204405 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00669g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Beyond conventional electrocatalyst engineering, recent studies have unveiled the effectiveness of manipulating the local reaction environment in enhancing the performance of electrocatalytic reactions. The general principles and strategies of local environmental engineering for different electrocatalytic processes have been extensively investigated. This review provides a critical appraisal of the recent advancements in local reaction environment engineering, aiming to comprehensively assess this emerging field. It presents the interactions among surface structure, ions distribution and local electric field in relation to the local reaction environment. Useful protocols such as the interfacial reactant concentration, mass transport rate, adsorption/desorption behaviors, and binding energy are in-depth discussed toward modifying the local reaction environment. Meanwhile, electrode physical structures and reaction cell configurations are viable optimization methods in engineering local reaction environments. In combination with operando investigation techniques, we conclude that rational modifications of the local reaction environment can significantly enhance various electrocatalytic processes by optimizing the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the reaction interface. We also outline future research directions to attain a comprehensive understanding and effective modulation of the local reaction environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Huanyu Jin
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Pengtang Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Xiaogang Sun
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Mietek Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Yao Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Shi-Zhang Qiao
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
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29
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Wang M, Wang B, Zhang J, Xi S, Ling N, Mi Z, Yang Q, Zhang M, Leow WR, Zhang J, Lum Y. Acidic media enables oxygen-tolerant electrosynthesis of multicarbon products from simulated flue gas. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1218. [PMID: 38336956 PMCID: PMC10858036 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45527-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Renewable electricity powered electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) offers a valuable method to close the carbon cycle and reduce our overreliance on fossil fuels. However, high purity CO2 is usually required as feedstock, which potentially decreases the feasibility and economic viability of the process. Direct conversion of flue gas is an attractive option but is challenging due to the low CO2 concentration and the presence of O2 impurities. As a result, up to 99% of the applied current can be lost towards the undesired oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we show that acidic electrolyte can significantly suppress ORR on Cu, enabling generation of multicarbon products from simulated flue gas. Using a composite Cu and carbon supported single-atom Ni tandem electrocatalyst, we achieved a multicarbon Faradaic efficiency of 46.5% at 200 mA cm-2, which is ~20 times higher than bare Cu under alkaline conditions. We also demonstrate stable performance for 24 h with a multicarbon product full-cell energy efficiency of 14.6%. Strikingly, this result is comparable to previously reported acidic CO2R systems using pure CO2. Our findings demonstrate a potential pathway towards designing efficient electrolyzers for direct conversion of flue gas to value-added chemicals and fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Bingqing Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore.
| | - Jiguang Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shibo Xi
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ning Ling
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ziyu Mi
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore
| | - Qin Yang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore
| | - Mingsheng Zhang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wan Ru Leow
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jia Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yanwei Lum
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Republic of Singapore.
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Republic of Singapore.
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30
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Sen A, Narsaria AK, Manae MA, Shetty S, Waghmare UV. Electrostatically tunable interaction of CO 2 with MgO surfaces and chemical switching: first-principles theory. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:5333-5343. [PMID: 38268468 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04588a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Electric field-assisted CO2 capture using solid adsorbents based on basic oxides can immensely reduce the required energy consumption compared to the conventional processes of temperature or pressure swing adsorption. In this work, we present first-principles density functional theoretical calculations to investigate the effects of an applied external electric field (AEEF) within the range from -1 to 1 V Å-1 on the CO2 adsorption behavior on various high and low-index facets of MgO. When CO2 is strongly adsorbed on MgO surfaces to form carbonate species, the coupling of electric fields with the resulting intrinsic dipole moment induces a 'switch' from a strongly chemisorbed state to a weakly chemisorbed or physisorbed state at a critical value of AEEF. We demonstrate that such 'switching' enables access to different metastable states with variations in the AEEF. On polar MgO(111) surfaces, we find a distinct feature of the adsorptive dissociation of CO2 towards the formation of CO in contrast to that on the non-polar MgO(100) and MgO(110) surfaces. In some cases, we observe broken inversion symmetry because of the AEEF that results in induced polarity at the interaction site of CO2 on MgO surfaces. Our results provide fundamental insights into the possibility of using AEEFs in novel solid adsorbent systems for CO2 capture and reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Sen
- Theoretical Sciences Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
| | - Ayush K Narsaria
- Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd, Mahadeva Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 562149, India.
| | - Meghna A Manae
- Theoretical Sciences Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
| | - Sharan Shetty
- Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd, Mahadeva Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 562149, India.
| | - Umesh V Waghmare
- Theoretical Sciences Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
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31
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Liu N, Bartling S, Springer A, Kubis C, Bokareva OS, Salaya E, Sun J, Zhang Z, Wohlrab S, Abdel-Mageed AM, Liang HQ, Francke R. Heterogenized Molecular Electrocatalyst Based on a Hydroxo-Bridged Binuclear Copper(II) Phenanthroline Compound for Selective Reduction of CO 2 to Ethylene. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2309526. [PMID: 37983740 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Molecular copper catalysts have emerged as promising candidates for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 . Notable features of such systems include the ability of Cu to generate C2+ products and the well-defined active sites that allow for targeted structural tuning. However, the frequently observed in situ formation of Cu nanoclusters has undermined the advantages of the molecular frameworks. It is therefore desirable to develop Cu-based catalysts that retain their molecular structures during electrolysis. In this context, a heterogenized binuclear hydroxo-bridged phenanthroline Cu(II) compound with a short Cu···Cu distance is reported as a simple yet efficient catalyst for electrogeneration of ethylene and other C2 products. In an aqueous electrolyte, the catalyst demonstrates remarkable performance, with excellent Faradaic efficiency for C2 products (62%) and minimal H2 evolution (8%). Furthermore, it exhibits high stability, manifested by no observable degradation during 15 h of continuous electrolysis. The preservation of the atomic distribution of the active sites throughout electrolysis is substantiated through comprehensive characterizations, including X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, as well as control experiments. These findings establish a solid foundation for further investigations into targeted structural tuning, opening new avenues for enhancing the catalytic performance of Cu-based molecular electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Stephan Bartling
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Armin Springer
- Electron Microscopy Center, University Medicine Rostock, Strempelstr. 14, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christoph Kubis
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Olga S Bokareva
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
- Institute of Physics, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34132, Kassel, Germany
| | - Evaristo Salaya
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jiameng Sun
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jingshi Rd. 17923, Jinan, 250061, P. R. China
| | - Zhonghua Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jingshi Rd. 17923, Jinan, 250061, P. R. China
| | - Sebastian Wohlrab
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ali M Abdel-Mageed
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Hong-Qing Liang
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Rd. 866, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Robert Francke
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry, Rostock University, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3a, 18059, Rostock, Germany
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32
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Lee T, Lee Y, Eo J, Nam DH. Acidic CO 2 electroreduction for high CO 2 utilization: catalysts, electrodes, and electrolyzers. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:2235-2249. [PMID: 38193364 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05480b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction reaction (CO2RR) is considered a promising technology for converting atmospheric CO2 into value-added compounds by utilizing renewable energy. The CO2RR has developed in various ways over the past few decades, including product selectivity, current density, and catalytic stability. However, its commercialization is still unsuitable in terms of economic feasibility. One of the major challenges in its commercialization is the low single-pass conversion efficiency (SPCE) of CO2, which is primarily caused by the formation of carbonate (CO32-) in neutral and alkaline electrolytes. Notably, the majority of CO2RRs take place in such media, necessitating significant energy input for CO2 regeneration. Therefore, performing the CO2RR under conditions that minimize CO32- formation to suppress reactant and electrolyte ion loss is regarded an optimal strategy for practical applications. Here, we introduce the recent progress and perspectives in the electrochemical CO2RR in acidic electrolytes, which receives great attention because of the inhibition of CO32- formation. This includes the categories of nanoscale catalytic design, microscale microenvironmental effects, and bulk scale applications in electrolyzers for zero carbon loss reactions. Additionally, we offer insights into the issue of limited catalytic durability, a notable drawback under acidic conditions and propose guidelines for further development of the acidic CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taemin Lee
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yujin Lee
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jungsu Eo
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dae-Hyun Nam
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea.
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33
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Vichou E, Adjez Y, Li Y, Gómez-Mingot M, Fontecave M, Sánchez-Sánchez CM. Smart Electrode Surfaces by Electrolyte Immobilization for Electrocatalytic CO 2 Conversion. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2824-2834. [PMID: 38240579 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The activity and selectivity of molecular catalysts for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) are influenced by the induced electric field at the electrode/electrolyte interface. We present here a novel electrolyte immobilization method to control the electric field at this interface by positively charging the electrode surface with an imidazolium cation organic layer, which significantly favors CO2 conversion to formate, suppresses hydrogen evolution reaction, and diminishes the operating cell voltage. Those results are well supported by our previous DFT calculations studying the mechanistic role of imidazolium cations in solution for CO2 reduction to formate catalyzed by a model molecular catalyst. This smart electrode surface concept based on covalent grafting of imidazolium on a carbon electrode is successfully scaled up for operating at industrially relevant conditions (100 mA cm-2) on an imidazolium-modified carbon-based gas diffusion electrode using a flow cell configuration, where the CO2 conversion to formate process takes place in acidic aqueous solution to avoid carbonate formation and is catalyzed by a model molecular Rh complex in solution. The formate production rate reaches a maximum of 4.6 gHCOO- m-2 min-1 after accumulating a total of 9000 C of charge circulated on the same electrode. Constant formate production and no significant microscopic changes on the imidazolium-modified cathode in consecutive long-term CO2 electrolysis confirmed the high stability of the imidazolium organic layer under operating conditions for CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elli Vichou
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, Collège de France, UMR 8229 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, PSL Research University, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques, LISE, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Yanis Adjez
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques, LISE, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Yun Li
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, Collège de France, UMR 8229 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, PSL Research University, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Maria Gómez-Mingot
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, Collège de France, UMR 8229 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, PSL Research University, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marc Fontecave
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, Collège de France, UMR 8229 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, PSL Research University, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Carlos M Sánchez-Sánchez
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques, LISE, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
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34
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Nilles CK, Borkowski AK, Bartlett ER, Stalcup MA, Lee HJ, Leonard KC, Subramaniam B, Thompson WH, Blakemore JD. Mechanistic Basis of Conductivity in Carbon Dioxide-Expanded Electrolytes: A Joint Experimental-Theoretical Study. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2398-2410. [PMID: 38252883 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Electrolyte conductivity contributes to the efficiency of devices for electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful chemicals, but the effect of the dissolution of CO2 gas on conductivity has received little attention. Here, we report a joint experimental-theoretical study of the properties of acetonitrile-based CO2-expanded electrolytes (CXEs) that contain high concentrations of CO2 (up to 12 M), achieved by CO2 pressurization. Cyclic voltammetry data and paired simulations show that high concentrations of dissolved CO2 do not impede the kinetics of outer-sphere electron transfer but decrease the solution conductivity at higher pressures. In contrast with conventional behaviors, Jones reactor-based measurements of conductivity show a nonmonotonic dependence on CO2 pressure: a plateau region of constant conductivity up to ca. 4 M CO2 and a region showing reduced conductivity at higher [CO2]. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that while the intrinsic ionic strength decreases as [CO2] increases, there is a concomitant increase in ionic mobility upon CO2 addition that contributes to stable solution conductivities up to 4 M CO2. Taken together, these results shed light on the mechanisms underpinning electrolyte conductivity in the presence of CO2 and reveal that the dissolution of CO2, although nonpolar by nature, can be leveraged to improve mass transport rates, a result of fundamental and practical significance that could impact the design of next-generation systems for CO2 conversion. Additionally, these results show that conditions in which ample CO2 is available at the electrode surface are achievable without sacrificing the conductivity needed to reach high electrocatalytic currents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K Nilles
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Ashley K Borkowski
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Elizabeth R Bartlett
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Matthew A Stalcup
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Hyun-Jin Lee
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Kevin C Leonard
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Bala Subramaniam
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Ward H Thompson
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - James D Blakemore
- Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 1567 Irving Hill Road, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
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35
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Deng W, Zhang P, Qiao Y, Kastlunger G, Govindarajan N, Xu A, Chorkendorff I, Seger B, Gong J. Unraveling the rate-determining step of C 2+ products during electrochemical CO reduction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:892. [PMID: 38291057 PMCID: PMC10828390 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45230-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of CO has drawn a large amount of attention due to its potential to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals by using renewable energy. However, the reaction's mechanism is not yet well understood. A major debate is whether the rate-determining step for the generation of multi-carbon products is C-C coupling or CO hydrogenation. This paper conducts an experimental analysis of the rate-determining step, exploring pH dependency, kinetic isotope effects, and the impact of CO partial pressure on multi-carbon product activity. Results reveal constant multi-carbon product activity with pH or electrolyte deuteration changes, and CO partial pressure data aligns with the theoretical formula derived from *CO-*CO coupling as the rate-determining step. These findings establish the dimerization of two *CO as the rate-determining step for multi-carbon product formation. Extending the study to commercial copper nanoparticles and oxide-derived copper catalysts shows their rate-determining step also involves *CO-*CO coupling. This investigation provides vital kinetic data and a theoretical foundation for enhancing multi-carbon product production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyu Deng
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peng Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China
| | - Yu Qiao
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nitish Govindarajan
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aoni Xu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Brian Seger
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jinlong Gong
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China.
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China.
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36
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Du S, Yang P, Li M, Tao L, Wang S, Liu ZQ. Catalysts and electrolyzers for the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction: from laboratory to industrial applications. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:1207-1221. [PMID: 38186078 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05453e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
To cope with the urgent environmental pressure and tight energy demand, using electrocatalytic methods to drive the reduction of carbon dioxide molecules and produce a variety of fuels and chemicals, is one of the effective pathways to achieve carbon neutrality. In recent years, many significant advances in the study of the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) have been made, but most of the works exhibit low current density, small electrode area and poor long-term stability, which are not suitable for large-scale industrial applications. Herein, combining the research achievements obtained in laboratories and the practical demand of industrial production, we summarize recent frontier progress in the field of the electrochemical CO2RR, including the fundamentals of catalytic reactions, catalyst design and preparation, and the construction of electrolyzers. In addition, we discuss the bottleneck problem of industrial CO2 electrolysis, and further present the prospect of the essential issues to be solved by the available technology for industrial electrolysis. This review can provide some basic understanding and knowledge accumulation for the development and practical application of electrochemical CO2RR technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqian Du
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, China.
| | - Pupu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, China.
| | - Mengyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, China.
| | - Li Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, China.
| | - Shuangyin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, China.
| | - Zhao-Qing Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, China.
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37
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Zhang Z, Li H, Shao Y, Gan L, Kang F, Duan W, Hansen HA, Li J. Molecular understanding of the critical role of alkali metal cations in initiating CO 2 electroreduction on Cu(100) surface. Nat Commun 2024; 15:612. [PMID: 38242907 PMCID: PMC10799043 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44896-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular understanding of the solid-liquid interface is challenging but essential to elucidate the role of the environment on the kinetics of electrochemical reactions. Alkali metal cations (M+), as a vital component at the interface, are found to be necessary for the initiation of carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) on coinage metals, and the activity and selectivity of CO2RR could be further enhanced with the cation changing from Li+ to Cs+, while the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvation and enhanced sampling methods, we systematically investigate the role of M+ in CO2RR on Cu surface. A monotonically decreasing CO2 activation barrier is obtained from Li+ to Cs+, which is attributed to the different coordination abilities of M+ with *CO2. Furthermore, we show that the competing hydrogen evolution reaction must be considered simultaneously to understand the crucial role of alkali metal cations in CO2RR on Cu surfaces, where H+ is repelled from the interface and constrained by M+. Our results provide significant insights into the design of electrochemical environments and highlight the importance of explicitly including the solvation and competing reactions in theoretical simulations of CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Zhang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Hengyu Li
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangfan Shao
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Gan
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Feiyu Kang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenhui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Quantum Physics and Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center for Quantum Information, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Heine Anton Hansen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Jia Li
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
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38
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Zhu Z, Zhu Y, Ren Z, Liu D, Yue F, Sheng D, Shao P, Huang X, Feng X, Yin AX, Xie J, Wang B. Covalent Organic Framework Ionomer Steering the CO 2 Electroreduction Pathway on Cu at Industrial-Grade Current Density. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:1572-1579. [PMID: 38170986 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
CO2 electroreduction holds great promise for addressing global energy and sustainability challenges. Copper (Cu) shows great potential for effective conversion of CO2 toward specific value-added and/or high-energy-density products. However, its limitation lies in relatively low product selectivity. Herein, we present that the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) pathway on commercially available Cu can be rationally steered by modulating the microenvironment in the vicinity of the Cu surface with two-dimensional sulfonated covalent organic framework nanosheet (COF-NS)-based ionomers. Specifically, the selectivity toward methane (CH4) can be enhanced to more than 60% with the total current density up to 500 mA cm-2 in flow cells in both acidic (pH = 2) and alkaline (pH = 14) electrolytes. The COF-NS, characterized by abundant apertures, can promote the accumulation of CO2 and K+ near the catalyst surface, alter the adsorption energy and surface coverage of *CO, facilitate the dissociation of H2O, and finally modulate the reaction pathway for the CO2RR. Our approach demonstrates the rational modulation of reaction interfaces for the CO2RR utilizing porous open framework ionomers, showcasing their potential practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhejiaji Zhu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Yuhao Zhu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Zhixin Ren
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Di Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Feiyu Yue
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Dafei Sheng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Pengpeng Shao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xiuying Huang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - An-Xiang Yin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Jing Xie
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Bo Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, Frontiers Science Center for High Energy Material, Advanced Technology Research Institute (Jinan), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
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39
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Tu X, Zhu X, Bo S, Zhang X, Miao R, Wen G, Chen C, Li J, Zhou Y, Liu Q, Chen D, Shao H, Yan D, Li Y, Jia J, Wang S. A Universal Approach for Sustainable Urea Synthesis via Intermediate Assembly at the Electrode/Electrolyte Interface. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317087. [PMID: 38055225 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic C-N coupling process is indeed a sustainable alternative for direct urea synthesis and co-upgrading of carbon dioxide and nitrate wastes. However, the main challenge lies in the unactivated C-N coupling process. Here, we proposed a strategy of intermediate assembly with alkali metal cations to activate C-N coupling at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Urea synthesis activity follows the trend of Li+
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojin Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Shuowen Bo
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ruping Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Guobin Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Photonic-Thermal-Electrical Energy Materials and Devices, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Yangyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Dawei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Material Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Huaiyu Shao
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Laboratory for Photonic-Thermal-Electrical Energy Materials and Devices, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Dafeng Yan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Yafei Li
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jianfeng Jia
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Molecules and Magnetic Information Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Material Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Shuangyin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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40
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Zhao X, Xie H, Deng B, Wang L, Li Y, Dong F. Enhanced CO 2 reduction with hydrophobic cationic-ionomer layer-modified zero-gap MEA in acidic electrolyte. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:542-545. [PMID: 38093711 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05277j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
A hydrophobic cationic-ionomer layer of quaternary ammonium poly(N-methyl-piperidine-co-p-terphenyl) and PTFE is presented to enhance the CO2 electroreduction in a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer under acidic and low alkali ion concentration conditions. The modified MEA achieved a maximum CO faradaic efficiency of 95.6% at 100 mA cm-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Zhao
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China.
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Hongtao Xie
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China.
| | - Bangwei Deng
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China.
| | - Lili Wang
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China.
| | - Yizhao Li
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China.
| | - Fan Dong
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China.
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
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41
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Deng T, Jia S, Chen C, Jiao J, Chen X, Xue C, Xia W, Xing X, Zhu Q, Wu H, He M, Han B. Polymer Modification Strategy to Modulate Reaction Microenvironment for Enhanced CO 2 Electroreduction to Ethylene. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202313796. [PMID: 38015565 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Modulation of the microenvironment on the electrode surface is one of the effective means to improve the efficiency of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (eCO2 RR). To achieve high conversion rates, the phase boundary at the electrode surface should be finely controlled to overcome the limitation of CO2 solubility in the aqueous electrolyte. Herein, we developed a simple and efficient method to structure electrocatalyst with a superhydrophobic surface microenvironment by one-step co-electrodeposition of Cu and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on carbon paper. The super-hydrophobic Cu-based electrode displayed a high ethylene (C2 H4 ) selectivity with a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 67.3 % at -1.25 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in an H-type cell, which is 2.5 times higher than a regular Cu electrode without PTFE. By using PTFE as a surface modifier, the activity of eCO2 RR is enhanced and water (proton) adsorption is inhibited. This strategy has the potential to be applied to other gas-conversion electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Deng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Shuaiqiang Jia
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Chunjun Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Jiapeng Jiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Cheng Xue
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Xueqing Xing
- Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qinggong Zhu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for carbon neutral chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Haihong Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Mingyuan He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
| | - Buxing Han
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai, 202162, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for carbon neutral chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
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42
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Liu B, Guo W, Anderson SR, Johnstone SG, Wu S, Herrington MC, Gebbie MA. Exploring how cation entropy influences electric double layer formation and electrochemical reactivity. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:351-364. [PMID: 38093637 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01302b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Electric double layers are crucial to energy storage and electrocatalytic device performance. While double layer formation originates in electrostatic interactions, electric double layer properties are governed by a balance of both electrostatic and entropic driving forces. Favorable ion-surface electrostatic interactions attract counterions to charged surfaces to compensate, or "screen," potentials, but the confinement of these same ions from a bulk reservoir to the interface incurs an entropic penalty. Here, we use a dicationic imidazolium ionic liquid and its monovalent analogue to explore how cation valence and entropy influence double layer formation and electrochemical reactivity using CO2 electroreduction as a model reaction. We find that divalent and monovalent cations display similar CO2 reduction kinetics but differ vastly in steady-state reactivity due to rapid electrochemically induced precipitation of insulating dicationic (bi)carbonate films. Using in situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy, we find that potential-dependent cation reorientation occurs at similar potentials between the two ionic liquids, but the introduction of a covalent link in the divalent cation imparts a more ordered double layer structure that favors (bi)carbonate precipitation. In mixed monovalent-divalent electrolytes, we find that the divalent cations dominate interfacial properties by preferentially accumulating at surfaces even at very low relative concentrations. Our findings confirm that ion entropy plays a key role in modulating local electrochemical environments. Furthermore, we highlight how double layer properties are sensitive to the properties of counterions that pay the lowest entropic penalty to accumulate at interfaces. Overall, we illustrate that ion entropy provides a new knob to tune reaction microenvironments and unveil how entropy plays a major role in modulating electrochemical reactivity in mixed ion electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beichen Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
| | - Wenxiao Guo
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
| | - Seth R Anderson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
| | - Samuel G Johnstone
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
| | - Siqi Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
| | - Megan C Herrington
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
| | - Matthew A Gebbie
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
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43
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Ding Y, Dong Y, Ma M, Luo L, Wang X, Fang B, Li Y, Liu L, Ren F. CO 2 electrocatalytic reduction to ethylene and its application outlook in food science. iScience 2023; 26:108434. [PMID: 38125022 PMCID: PMC10730755 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficient conversion of CO2 is considered to be an important step toward carbon emissions peak and carbon neutrality. Presently, great efforts have been devoted to the study of efficient nanocatalysts, electrolytic cell, and electrolytes to achieve high reactivity and selectivity in the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to mono- and multi-carbon (C2+) compounds. However, there are very few reviews focusing on highly reactive and selective ethylene production and application in the field of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). Ethylene is a class of multi-carbon compounds that are widely applied in industrial, ecological, and agricultural fields. This review focuses especially on the convertibility of CO2 reduction to generate ethylene technology in practical applications and provides a detailed summary of the latest technologies for the efficient production of ethylene by CO2RR and suggests the potential application of CO2RR systems in food science to further expand the application market of CO2RR for ethylene production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Ding
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yixuan Dong
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Min Ma
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lili Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xifan Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bing Fang
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yixuan Li
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Libing Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fazheng Ren
- Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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44
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Xu K, Li J, Liu F, Chen X, Zhao T, Cheng F. Favoring CO Intermediate Stabilization and Protonation by Crown Ether for CO 2 Electromethanation in Acidic Media. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202311968. [PMID: 37885357 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202311968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The large-scale deployment of CO2 electroreduction is hampered by deficient carbon utilization in neutral and alkaline electrolytes due to CO2 loss into (bi)carbonates. Switching to acidic media mitigates carbonation, but suffers from low product selectivity because of hydrogen evolution. Here we report a crown ether decoration strategy on a Cu catalyst to enhance carbon utilization and selectivity of CO2 methanation under acidic conditions. Macrocyclic 18-Crown-6 is found to enrich potassium cations near the Cu electrode surface, simultaneously enhancing the interfacial electric field to stabilize the *CO intermediate and accelerate water dissociation to boost *CO protonation. Remarkably, the mixture of 18-Crown-6 and Cu nanoparticles affords a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of 51.2 % and a single pass carbon efficiency of 43.0 % toward CO2 electroreduction in electrolyte with pH=2. This study provides a facile strategy to promote CH4 selectivity and carbon utilization by modifying Cu catalysts with supramolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keqiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center on High-Efficiency Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Jinhan Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center on High-Efficiency Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Fangming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center on High-Efficiency Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xijie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center on High-Efficiency Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Tete Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center on High-Efficiency Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Fangyi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center on High-Efficiency Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
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45
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Bai J, Wang W, Liu J. Bioinspired Hydrophobicity for Enhancing Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202302461. [PMID: 37702459 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202302461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2 R) is a promising pathway for converting greenhouse gasses into valuable fuels and chemicals using intermittent renewable energy. Enormous efforts have been invested in developing and designing CO2 R electrocatalysts suitable for industrial applications at accelerated reaction rates. The microenvironment, specifically the local CO2 concentration (local [CO2 ]) as well as the water and ion transport at the CO2 -electrolyte-catalyst interface, also significantly impacts the current density, Faradaic efficiency (FE), and operation stability. In nature, hydrophobic surfaces of aquatic arachnids trap appreciable amounts of gases due to the "plastron effect", which could inspire the reliable design of CO2 R catalysts and devices to enrich gaseous CO2 . In this review, starting from the wettability modulation, we summarize CO2 enrichment strategies to enhance CO2 R. To begin, superwettability systems in nature and their inspiration for concentrating CO2 in CO2 R are described and discussed. Moreover, other CO2 enrichment strategies, compatible with the hydrophobicity modulation, are explored from the perspectives of catalysts, electrolytes, and electrolyzers, respectively. Finally, a perspective on the future development of CO2 enrichment strategies is provided. We envision that this review could provide new guidance for further developments of CO2 R toward practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Bai
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Qingdao, 266101, P. R. China
| | - Wenshuo Wang
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Qingdao, 266101, P. R. China
| | - Jian Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Qingdao, 266101, P. R. China
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46
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Wang J, Qin Y, Jin S, Yang Y, Zhu J, Li X, Lv X, Fu J, Hong Z, Su Y, Wu HB. Customizing CO 2 Electroreduction by Pulse-Induced Anion Enrichment. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:26213-26221. [PMID: 37944031 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemically converting CO2 into specified high-value products is critical for carbon neutral economics. However, governing the product distribution of the CO2 electroreduction on Cu-based catalysts remains challenging. Herein, we put forward an anion enrichment strategy to efficiently dictate the route of *CO reduction by a pulsed electrolysis strategy. Upon periodically applying a positive potential on the cathode, the anion concentration in the vicinity of the electrode increases apparently. By adopting KF, KCl, and KHCO3 as electrolytes, the dominant CO2 electroreduction product on commercial Cu foil can be tuned into CO (53% ± 2.5), C2+ (76.6 ± 2.1%), and CH4 (42.6 ± 2.1%) under pulsed electrolysis. Notably, one can delicately tailor the ratios of CO/CH4, CH4/C2+, and C2+/CO by simply changing the composition of the electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that locally enriched anions can affect the key CO2RR intermediates in different ways owing to their specific electronegativity and volume, which leads to the distinct selectivity. The present study highlights the importance of tuning ionic species at the electrode-electrolyte interface for customizing the CO2 electroreduction products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianghao Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Yanyang Qin
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Materials Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Shoutong Jin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yue Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Xiaotong Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xiangzhou Lv
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jie Fu
- Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China
| | - Zijian Hong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Yaqiong Su
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Energy Materials Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Hao Bin Wu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310027, China
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47
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Wan M, Yang Z, Morgan H, Shi J, Shi F, Liu M, Wong HW, Gu Z, Che F. Enhanced CO 2 Reactive Capture and Conversion Using Aminothiolate Ligand-Metal Interface. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:26038-26051. [PMID: 37973169 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Metallic catalyst modification by organic ligands is an emerging catalyst design in enhancing the activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) reactive capture and reduction to value-added fuels. However, a lack of fundamental science on how these ligand-metal interfaces interact with CO2 and key intermediates under working conditions has resulted in a trial-and-error approach for experimental designs. With the aid of density functional theory calculations, we provided a comprehensive mechanism study of CO2 reduction to multicarbon products over aminothiolate-coated copper (Cu) catalysts. Our results indicate that the CO2 reduction performance was closely related to the alkyl chain length, ligand coverage, ligand configuration, and Cu facet. The aminothiolate ligand-Cu interface significantly promoted initial CO2 activation and lowered the activation barrier of carbon-carbon coupling through the organic (nitrogen (N)) and inorganic (Cu) interfacial active sites. Experimentally, the selectivity and partial current density of the multicarbon products over aminothiolate-coated Cu increased by 1.5-fold and 2-fold, respectively, as compared to the pristine Cu at -1.16 VRHE, consistent with our theoretical findings. This work highlights the promising strategy of designing the ligand-metal interface for CO2 reactive capture and conversion to multicarbon products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Wan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Zhengyang Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Heba Morgan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Jinquan Shi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Fan Shi
- National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236, United States
| | - Mengxia Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Hsi-Wu Wong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Zhiyong Gu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
| | - Fanglin Che
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, United States
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48
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Phong Duong H, Rivera de la Cruz JG, Tran NH, Louis J, Zanna S, Portehault D, Zitolo A, Walls M, Peron DV, Schreiber MW, Menguy N, Fontecave M. Silver and Copper Nitride Cooperate for CO Electroreduction to Propanol. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202310788. [PMID: 37811682 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202310788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The need of carbon sources for the chemical industry, alternative to fossil sources, has pointed to CO2 as a possible feedstock. While CO2 electroreduction (CO2 R) allows production of interesting organic compounds, it suffers from large carbon losses, mainly due to carbonate formation. This is why, quite recently, tandem CO2 R, a two-step process, with first CO2 R to CO using a solid oxide electrolysis cell followed by CO electroreduction (COR), has been considered, since no carbon is lost as carbonate in either step. Here we report a novel copper-based catalyst, silver-doped copper nitride, with record selectivity for formation of propanol (Faradaic efficiency: 45 %), an industrially relevant compound, from CO electroreduction in gas-fed flow cells. Selective propanol formation occurs at metallic copper atoms derived from copper nitride and is promoted by silver doping as shown experimentally and computationally. In addition, the selectivity for C2+ liquid products (Faradaic efficiency: 80 %) is among the highest reported so far. These findings open new perspectives regarding the design of catalysts for production of C3 compounds from CO2 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Phong Duong
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, Sorbonne Université, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Jose Guillermo Rivera de la Cruz
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, Sorbonne Université, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Ngoc-Huan Tran
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, Sorbonne Université, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Jacques Louis
- Laboratoire de Chimie du Solide et Energie, CNRS UMR 8260, Collège de France, Sorbonne Université, 1 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Sandrine Zanna
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris (IRCP), 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - David Portehault
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (CMCP), 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Zitolo
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers Saint-Aubin BP 48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michael Walls
- CNRS UMR 8502, Université Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Deizi Vanessa Peron
- Total Research and Technology, Refining and Chemicals, Division CO2 Conversion, Feluy, 7181, Seneffe, Belgium
| | - Moritz W Schreiber
- Total Research and Technology, Refining and Chemicals, Division CO2 Conversion, Feluy, 7181, Seneffe, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Menguy
- Sorbonne Université, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Marc Fontecave
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, Sorbonne Université, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
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49
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Jia H, Yao N, Yu C, Cong H, Luo W. Unveiling the Electrolyte Cations Dependent Kinetics on CoOOH-Catalyzed Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202313886. [PMID: 37864480 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The electrolyte cations-dependent kinetics have been widely observed in many fields of electrocatalysis, however, the exact mechanism of the influence on catalytic performance is still a controversial topic of considerable discussion. Herein, combined with operando X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), we verify that the electrolyte cations could intercalate into the layer of pristine CoOOH catalyst during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process, while the bigger cations lead to enlarged interlayer spacing and increased OER activity, following the order Cs+ >K+ >Na+ >Li+ . X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), in situ Raman, in situ Ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy, in situ XAS spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and theoretical calculations reveal that the intercalation of electrolyte cations efficiently modify the oxidation states of Co by enlarging the Co-O bonds, which in turn enhance the d-band center of Co, optimize the adsorption strength of oxygen intermediates, facilitate the formation of OER active Co(IV) species, and reduce the energy barrier of the rate-determing step (RDS), thereby enhancing the OER activity. This work not only provides an informative picture to understand the complicated dependence of OER kinetics on electrolyte cations, but also sheds light on understanding the mechanism of other electrolyte cation-targeted electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongnan Jia
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University Hubei, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Na Yao
- State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies, Wuhan Textile University Hubei, 430073, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Can Yu
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Hengjiang Cong
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University Hubei, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University Hubei, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
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50
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Wang Z, Zhou Y, Qiu P, Xia C, Fang W, Jin J, Huang L, Deng P, Su Y, Crespo-Otero R, Tian X, You B, Guo W, Di Tommaso D, Pang Y, Ding S, Xia BY. Advanced Catalyst Design and Reactor Configuration Upgrade in Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Conversion. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2303052. [PMID: 37589167 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2 RR) driven by renewable energy shows great promise in mitigating and potentially reversing the devastating effects of anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation. The simultaneous synthesis of energy-dense chemicals can meet global energy demand while decoupling emissions from economic growth. However, the development of CO2 RR technology faces challenges in catalyst discovery and device optimization that hinder their industrial implementation. In this contribution, a comprehensive overview of the current state of CO2 RR research is provided, starting with the background and motivation for this technology, followed by the fundamentals and evaluated metrics. Then the underlying design principles of electrocatalysts are discussed, emphasizing their structure-performance correlations and advanced electrochemical assembly cells that can increase CO2 RR selectivity and throughput. Finally, the review looks to the future and identifies opportunities for innovation in mechanism discovery, material screening strategies, and device assemblies to move toward a carbon-neutral society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhitong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yansong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Peng Qiu
- School of Optical and Electronic Information, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Chenfeng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wensheng Fang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jian Jin
- School of Optical and Electronic Information, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Peilin Deng
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yaqiong Su
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Rd, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Rachel Crespo-Otero
- Department of Chemistry, University of College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Xinlong Tian
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Bo You
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Devis Di Tommaso
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Yuanjie Pang
- School of Optical and Electronic Information, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shujiang Ding
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Rd, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Bao Yu Xia
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan, 430074, China
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