Liu S, Zheng D, Zhao L, Zhao X, Chen X. Rare Earth Metal Anchored into Nitrogen-Doped Graphene for CO
2 Electrocatalytic Reduction to C1 Products.
LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023;
39:14748-14757. [PMID:
37787646 DOI:
10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02135]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are attracting global attention due to their 100% atomic utilization rate and unique properties. Rare-earth-based SACs have shown great potential in the field of electrocatalysis in recent years. In this study, the catalytic performance of four rare earth metals (REMs) anchored into N-graphene for the CO2RR is systematically studied by density functional theory. The calculation results of formation energy show that all REM@N6-G compounds have favorable stability. In addition, the Gibbs free energy calculation results of all possible elementary reactions show that the *OCHO pathway is the optimal hydrogenation pathway for all catalysts, and they have the same potential determining step (*OCHO + e- + H+ → *HCOOH). Meanwhile, the products of the CO2RR on these catalysts are different, and the product on REM@N6-G (REM = La, Pr, and Nd) is CH4, while the product on Ce@N6-G is CH3OH. In particular, Nd@N6-G exhibits the best catalytic activity in this work, with a very low limiting potential of -0.38 V. These results may guide the development of rare-earth-based SACs for CO2RR.
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