1
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Deacon-Price C, Changeur L, Santana CS, Garcia AC. The Effect of the Tetraalkylammonium Cation in the Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction Reaction on Copper Electrode. ACS Catal 2024; 14:12928-12939. [PMID: 39263546 PMCID: PMC11385355 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c02297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Aprotic organic solvents such as acetonitrile offer a potential solution to promote electrochemical CO2 reduction over the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. Tetraalkylammonium cations (TAA+) are widely used as supporting electrolytes in organic media due to their high solubility and conductivity. The alkyl chain length of TAA+ cations is known to influence electron transfer processes in electrochemical systems by the adsorption of TAA+, causing modifications of the double layer. In this work, we elucidate the influence of the cation chain length on the mechanism and selectivity of the CO2RR reaction under controlled dry and wet acetonitrile conditions on copper cathodes. We find that the hydrophobic hydration character of the cation, which can be tuned by the chain length, has an effect on product distribution, altering the reaction pathway. Under dry conditions, smaller cations (TEA+) preferentially promote oxalate production via dimerization of the CO2 ·- intermediate, whereas formate is favored in the presence of water via protonation reaction. Larger cations (TBA+ > TPA+ > TEA+) favor the generation of CO regardless of water content. In situ FTIR analysis showed that TBA+ cations are able to stabilize adsorbed CO more effectively than TEA+, explaining why larger cations generate a higher proportion of CO. Our findings also suggest that higher cation concentrations suppress hydrogen evolution, particularly with larger cations, highlighting the role of cation chain length size and hydrophobic hydration shell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor Deacon-Price
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Louis Changeur
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cássia S Santana
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amanda C Garcia
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Li Z, Wang L, Sun L, Yang W. Dynamic Cation Enrichment during Pulsed CO 2 Electrolysis and the Cation-Promoted Multicarbon Formation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:23901-23908. [PMID: 39054919 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c06404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Recently, pulsed electrolysis has been demonstrated as an emerging electrochemical technique that significantly promotes the performance of various electrocatalysis applications. The ionic nature of aqueous electrolytes implies a likely change in ionic distribution under these alternating potential conditions. However, despite the well-known importance of cations, the impact of pulsed electrolysis on the cation distribution remains unexplored as well as its influences on the performance. Herein, we explore the cation effects on the pulsed electrochemical CO2 reduction (p-CO2RR) using the most widely utilized alkali metal cations, including Li+, Na+, K+, and Cs+. It is discovered that the nature of cations can significantly influence the product ratio of C2+ over C1 (mostly CH4) during p-CO2RR in an order of Li+< Na+< K+< Cs+, much more profoundly than those of static cases. We report direct experimental evidence for the cation enrichment caused by pulsed electrolysis, depending on the radius of the hydrated ions. With further quasi-in situ analysis of the catalyst surface, the cation-promoted Cu dissolution-and-redeposition process was identified; this is found to alter the surface CuxO/Cu ratio during the pulsed process. We demonstrate that both the cation enrichment and the cation-adjusted surface CuxO/Cu composition impact the C2+/C1 ratio through the control of the surface-adsorbed CO population. These results reveal the presence of pulse-induced cation redistribution in emerging pulsed electrolysis techniques and provide a comprehensive understanding of alkali metal cation effects for improving the selectivity of p-CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofeng Li
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
- Division of Solar Energy Conversion and Catalysis at Westlake University, Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Linqin Wang
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
- Division of Solar Energy Conversion and Catalysis at Westlake University, Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Licheng Sun
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
- Division of Solar Energy Conversion and Catalysis at Westlake University, Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenxing Yang
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
- Division of Solar Energy Conversion and Catalysis at Westlake University, Zhejiang Baima Lake Laboratory Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang, China
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3
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Niu W, Feng J, Chen J, Deng L, Guo W, Li H, Zhang L, Li Y, Zhang B. High-efficiency C 3 electrosynthesis on a lattice-strain-stabilized nitrogen-doped Cu surface. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7070. [PMID: 39152122 PMCID: PMC11329774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51478-4] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of multi-carbon (C2+) fuels via electrocatalytic reduction of CO, H2O using renewable electricity, represents a significant stride in sustainable energy storage and carbon recycling. The foremost challenge in this field is the production of extended-chain carbon compounds (Cn, n ≥ 3), wherein elevated *CO coverage (θco) and its subsequent multiple-step coupling are both critical. Notwithstanding, there exists a "seesaw" dynamic between intensifying *CO adsorption to augment θco and surmounting the C-C coupling barrier, which have not been simultaneously realized within a singular catalyst yet. Here, we introduce a facilely synthesized lattice-strain-stabilized nitrogen-doped Cu (LSN-Cu) with abundant defect sites and robust nitrogen integration. The low-coordination sites enhance θco and concurrently, the compressive strain substantially fortifies nitrogen dopants on the catalyst surface, promoting C-C coupling activity. The n-propanol formation on the LSN-Cu electrode exhibits a 54% faradaic efficiency and a 29% half-cell energy efficiency. Moreover, within a membrane electrode assembly setup, a stable n-propanol electrosynthesis over 180 h at a total current density of 300 mA cm-2 is obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhe Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Feng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Deng
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, 066004, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Wen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
| | - Huajing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China
| | - Liqiang Zhang
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, 066004, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Youyong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, 200438, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Wu H, Yu H, Chow YL, Webley PA, Zhang J. Toward Durable CO 2 Electroreduction with Cu-Based Catalysts via Understanding Their Deactivation Modes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2403217. [PMID: 38845132 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202403217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The technology of CO2 electrochemical reduction (CO2ER) provides a means to convert CO2, a waste greenhouse gas, into value-added chemicals. Copper is the most studied element that is capable of catalyzing CO2ER to obtain multicarbon products, such as ethylene, ethanol, acetate, etc., at an appreciable rate. Under the operating condition of CO2ER, the catalytic performance of Cu decays because of several factors that alters the surface properties of Cu. In this review, these factors that cause the degradation of Cu-based CO2ER catalysts are categorized into generalized deactivation modes, that are applicable to all electrocatalytic systems. The fundamental principles of each deactivation mode and the associated effects of each on Cu-based catalysts are discussed in detail. Structure- and composition-activity relationship developed from recent in situ/operando characterization studies are presented as evidence of related deactivation modes in operation. With the aim to address these deactivation modes, catalyst design and reaction environment engineering rationales are suggested. Finally, perspectives and remarks built upon the recent advances in CO2ER are provided in attempts to improve the durability of CO2ER catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiwen Wu
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Haoming Yu
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yuen-Leong Chow
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Paul A Webley
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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5
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Levell Z, Le J, Yu S, Wang R, Ethirajan S, Rana R, Kulkarni A, Resasco J, Lu D, Cheng J, Liu Y. Emerging Atomistic Modeling Methods for Heterogeneous Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8620-8656. [PMID: 38990563 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Heterogeneous electrocatalysis lies at the center of various technologies that could help enable a sustainable future. However, its complexity makes it challenging to accurately and efficiently model at an atomic level. Here, we review emerging atomistic methods to simulate the electrocatalytic interface with special attention devoted to the components/effects that have been challenging to model, such as solvation, electrolyte ions, electrode potential, reaction kinetics, and pH. Additionally, we review relevant computational spectroscopy methods. Then, we showcase several examples of applying these methods to understand and design catalysts relevant to green hydrogen. We also offer experimental views on how to bridge the gap between theory and experiments. Finally, we provide some perspectives on opportunities to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Levell
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Jiabo Le
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1219 Zhongguan West Road, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Saerom Yu
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Ruoyu Wang
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Sudheesh Ethirajan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Rachita Rana
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Ambarish Kulkarni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Joaquin Resasco
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Deyu Lu
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Jun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Laboratory of AI for Electrochemistry (AI4EC), Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yuanyue Liu
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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6
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Sun Y, Chen J, Du X, Cui J, Chen X, Wu C, Yang X, Liu L, Ye J. Anchoring Cs + Ions on Carbon Vacancies for Selective CO 2 Electroreduction to CO at High Current Densities in Membrane Electrode Assembly Electrolyzers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202410802. [PMID: 38923695 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202410802] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Electrolyte cations have been demonstrated to effectively enhance the rate and selectivity of the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), yet their implementation in electrolyte-free membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer presents significant challenges. Herein, an anchored cation strategy that immobilizes Cs+ on carbon vacancies was designed and innovatively implemented in MEA electrolyzer, enabling highly efficient CO2 electroreduction over commercial silver catalyst. Our approach achieves a CO partial current density of approximately 500 mA cm-2 in the MEA electrolyzer, three-fold enhancement compared to pure Ag. In situ Raman and theoretical analyses, combined with machine learning potentials, reveal anchored Cs induces an electric field that significantly promotes the adsorption of *CO2 - intermediates through performing muti-point energy calculations on each structure. Furthermore, reduced adsorption of *OH intermediates effectively hampers competing hydrogen evolution reaction, as clarified by disk electrode experiments and density functional theory studies. Additionally, coupling our system with commercial polysilicon solar cells yields a notable solar-to-CO energy conversion efficiency of 8.3 %. This study opens a new avenue for developing effective cation-promoting strategy in MEA reactors for efficient CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Sun
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Junxiang Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - XueMei Du
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jiwei Cui
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Chenhe Wu
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xinmin Yang
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Lequan Liu
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jinhua Ye
- Advanced Catalytic Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, 305-0047, Japan
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7
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Zhang Y, Chen Y, Wang X, Feng Y, Dai Z, Cheng M, Zhang G. Low-coordinated copper facilitates the *CH 2CO affinity at enhanced rectifying interface of Cu/Cu 2O for efficient CO 2-to-multicarbon alcohols conversion. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5172. [PMID: 38890306 PMCID: PMC11189494 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49247-4] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The carbon-carbon coupling at the Cu/Cu2O Schottky interface has been widely recognized as a promising approach for electrocatalytic CO2 conversion into value-added alcohols. However, the limited selectivity of C2+ alcohols persists due to the insufficient control over rectifying interface characteristics required for precise bonding of oxyhydrocarbons. Herein, we present an investigation into the manipulation of the coordination environment of Cu sites through an in-situ electrochemical reconstruction strategy, which indicates that the construction of low-coordinated Cu sites at the Cu/Cu2O interface facilitates the enhanced rectifying interfaces, and induces asymmetric electronic perturbation and faster electron exchange, thereby boosting C-C coupling and bonding oxyhydrocarbons towards the nucleophilic reaction process of *H2CCO-CO. Impressively, the low-coordinated Cu sites at the Cu/Cu2O interface exhibit superior faradic efficiency of 64.15 ± 1.92% and energy efficiency of ~39.32% for C2+ alcohols production, while maintaining stability for over 50 h (faradic efficiency >50%, total current density = 200 mA cm-2) in a flow-cell electrolyzer. Theoretical calculations, operando synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman experiments decipher that the low-coordinated Cu sites at the Cu/Cu2O interface can enhance the coverage of *CO and adsorption of *CH2CO and CH2CHO, facilitating the formation of C2+ alcohols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanxu Chen
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yafei Feng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zechuan Dai
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mingyu Cheng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Genqiang Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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8
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Parada W, Sajevic U, Mammadzada R, Nikolaienko P, Mayrhofer KJJ. Tethered Alkylammonium Dications as Electrochemical Interface Modifiers: Chain Length Effect on CO 2 Reduction Selectivity at Industry-Relevant Current Density. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:30107-30116. [PMID: 38809223 PMCID: PMC11181265 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) has the potential to be an economically viable method to produce platform chemicals synergistically with renewable energy sources. Copper is one of the most commonly used electrocatalysts for this purpose, as it allows C-C bond formation, yielding a broad product distribution. Controlling selectivity is a stepping stone on the way to its industrial application. The kinetics of the reaction can be modified to favor the rates of certain products quickly and inexpensively by applying additives such as ionic liquids and coelectrolytes that directly affect the electrocatalytic interface. In this work, we propose tethered tetraalkylammonium salts as double-charged cationic modifiers of the electrochemical double layer to control CO2RR product selectivity. A novel setup comprising a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) flow cell coupled with real-time mass spectroscopy was used to study the effect of a library of the selected salts. We emphasize how the length of an alkyl linker effectively controls the selectivity of the reaction toward C1, C2, or C3 products at high relevant current densities (Jtotal = -400 mA cm-2) along with the inhibition of the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction. Standard long-term experiments were performed for quantitative validation and stability evaluation. These results have broad implications for further tailoring an effective catalytic system for selective CO2 reduction reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter
A. Parada
- HI
ERN (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, Erlangen 91058, Germany
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - Urban Sajevic
- HI
ERN (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, Erlangen 91058, Germany
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - Rashad Mammadzada
- HI
ERN (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, Erlangen 91058, Germany
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - Pavlo Nikolaienko
- HI
ERN (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Karl J. J. Mayrhofer
- HI
ERN (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, Erlangen 91058, Germany
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), Erlangen 91054, Germany
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9
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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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10
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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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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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Hou J, Xu B, Lu Q. Influence of electric double layer rigidity on CO adsorption and electroreduction rate. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1926. [PMID: 38431637 PMCID: PMC10908862 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46318-4] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the structure of the electric double layer (EDL) is critical for designing efficient electrocatalytic processes. However, the interplay between reactant adsorbates and the concentrated ionic species within the EDL remains an aspect that has yet to be fully explored. In the present study, we employ electrochemical CO reduction on Cu as a model reaction to reveal the significant impact of EDL structure on CO adsorption. By altering the sequence of applying negative potential and elevating CO pressure, we discern two distinct EDL structures with varying cation density and CO coverage. Our findings demonstrate that the EDL comprising densely packed cations substantially hinders CO adsorption on the Cu as opposed to the EDL containing less compact cations. These two different EDL structures remained stable over the course of our experiments, despite their identical initial and final conditions, suggesting an insurmountable kinetic barrier present in between. Moreover, we show that the size and identity of cations play decisive roles in determining the properties of the EDL in CO electroreduction on Cu. This study presents a refined adaptation of the classical Gouy-Chapman-Stern model and highlights its catalytic importance, which bridges the mechanistic gap between the EDL structure and cathodic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Bingjun Xu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
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13
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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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14
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Couce PM, Madsen TK, Plaza-Mayoral E, Kristoffersen HH, Chorkendorff I, Dalby KN, van der Stam W, Rossmeisl J, Escudero-Escribano M, Sebastián-Pascual P. Tailoring the facet distribution on copper with chloride. Chem Sci 2024; 15:1714-1725. [PMID: 38303937 PMCID: PMC10829013 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05988j] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrocatalytic reactions are sensitive to the catalyst surface structure. Therefore, finding methods to determine active surface sites with different geometry is essential to address the structure-electrocatalytic performance relationships. In this work, we propose a simple methodology to tune and quantify the surface structure on copper catalysts. We tailor the distribution and ratio of facets on copper by electrochemically oxidizing and reducing the surface in chloride-rich aqueous solutions. We then address the formation of new facets with voltammetric lead (Pb) underpotential deposition (UPD). We first record the voltammetric lead UPD on different single facets, which have intense peaks at different potential values. We use this data to decouple each facet peak-contribution in the lead (Pb) UPD curves of the tailored and multifaceted copper surfaces and determine the geometry of the active sites. We combine experiments with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to assess the ligand effect of chloride anions on the copper facet distribution during the surface oxidation/electrodeposition treatment. Our experiments and Wulff constructions suggest that chloride preferentially adsorbs on the (310) facet, reducing the number of (111) sites and inducing the growth of (310) or n(100) × (110) domains. Our work provides a tool to correlate active sites with copper geometries, which is needed to assess the structure-performance relationships in electrocatalysis. We also demonstrate an easy method for selectively tailoring the facet distribution of copper, which is essential to design a well-defined nanostructured catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Mazaira Couce
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Thor Kongstad Madsen
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Elena Plaza-Mayoral
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Henrik H Kristoffersen
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Surface Physics and Catalysis, Technical University of Denmark Fysikvej DK-2800 Lyngby Denmark
| | | | - Ward van der Stam
- Utrecht University, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science Netherlands
| | - Jan Rossmeisl
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - María Escudero-Escribano
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology UAB Campus, 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona Spain
- ICREA Pg. Lluís Companys 23 08010 Barcelona Spain
| | - Paula Sebastián-Pascual
- Department of Chemistry, Center for High Entropy Catalysis (CHEAC), University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 5 2100 Copenhagen Denmark
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15
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Jiang Z, Clavaguéra C, Hu C, Denisov SA, Shen S, Hu F, Ma J, Mostafavi M. Direct time-resolved observation of surface-bound carbon dioxide radical anions on metallic nanocatalysts. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7116. [PMID: 37932333 PMCID: PMC10628153 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42936-6] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Time-resolved identification of surface-bound intermediates on metallic nanocatalysts is imperative to develop an accurate understanding of the elementary steps of CO2 reduction. Direct observation on initial electron transfer to CO2 to form surface-bound CO2•- radicals is lacking due to the technical challenges. Here, we use picosecond pulse radiolysis to generate CO2•- via aqueous electron attachment and observe the stabilization processes toward well-defined nanoscale metallic sites. The time-resolved method combined with molecular simulations identifies surface-bound intermediates with characteristic transient absorption bands and distinct kinetics from nanosecond to the second timescale for three typical metallic nanocatalysts: Cu, Au, and Ni. The interfacial interactions are further investigated by varying the important factors, such as catalyst size and the presence of cation in the electrolyte. This work highlights fundamental ultrafast spectroscopy to clarify the critical initial step in the CO2 catalytic reduction mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Jiang
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Physique, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Carine Clavaguéra
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Physique, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Changjiang Hu
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 211106, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Sergey A Denisov
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Physique, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Shuning Shen
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 211106, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Feng Hu
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 211106, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Jun Ma
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China.
| | - Mehran Mostafavi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Physique, 91405, Orsay, France.
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16
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Kong K, Li AZ, Wang Y, Shi Q, Li J, Ji K, Duan H. Electrochemical carbon-carbon coupling with enhanced activity and racemate stereoselectivity by microenvironment regulation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6925. [PMID: 37903827 PMCID: PMC10616095 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42724-2] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are characteristic of catalytic efficiency and specificity by maneuvering multiple components in concert at a confined nanoscale space. However, achieving such a configuration in artificial catalysts remains challenging. Herein, we report a microenvironment regulation strategy by modifying carbon paper with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations, delivering electrochemical carbon-carbon coupling of benzaldehyde with enhanced activity and racemate stereoselectivity. The modified electrode-electrolyte interface creates an optimal microenvironment for electrocatalysis-it engenders dipolar interaction with the reaction intermediate, giving a 2.2-fold higher reaction rate (from 0.13 to 0.28 mmol h-1 cm-2); Moreover, it repels interfacial water and modulates the conformational specificity of reaction intermediate by facilitating intermolecular hydrogen bonding, affording 2.5-fold higher diastereomeric ratio of racemate to mesomer (from 0.73 to 1.82). We expect that the microenvironment regulation strategy will lead to the advanced design of electrode-electrolyte interface for enhanced activity and (stereo)selectivity that mimics enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejian Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - An-Zhen Li
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiujin Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiyue Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Haohong Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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17
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Yang L, Lv X, Peng C, Kong S, Huang F, Tang Y, Zhang L, Zheng G. Promoting CO 2 Electroreduction to Acetate by an Amine-Terminal, Dendrimer-Functionalized Cu Catalyst. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1905-1912. [PMID: 37901173 PMCID: PMC10604016 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Acetate derived from electrocatalytic CO2 reduction represents a potential low-carbon synthesis approach. However, the CO2-to-acetate activity and selectivity are largely inhibited by the low surface coverage of in situ generated *CO, as well as the inefficient ethenone intermediate formation due to the side reaction between CO2 and alkaline electrolytes. Tuning catalyst microenvironments by chemical modification of the catalyst surface is a potential strategy to enhance CO2 capture and increase local *CO concentrations, while it also increases the selectivity of side reduction products, such as methane or ethylene. To solve this challenge, herein, we developed a hydrophilic amine-tailed, dendrimer network with enhanced *CO intermediate coverage on Cu catalytic sites while at the same time retaining the in situ generated OH- as a high local pH environment that favors the ethenone intermediate toward acetate. The optimized amine-network coordinated Cu catalyst (G3-NH2/Cu) exhibits one of the highest CO2-to-acetate Faradaic efficiencies of 47.0% with a partial current density of 202 mA cm-2 at -0.97 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Laboratory
of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory
of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ximeng Lv
- Laboratory
of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory
of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Chen Peng
- Laboratory
of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory
of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shuyi Kong
- State
Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Fuqiang Huang
- State
Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Yi Tang
- Laboratory
of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory
of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Laboratory
of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory
of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Gengfeng Zheng
- Laboratory
of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory
of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
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18
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Khani H, Puente Santiago AR, He T. An Interfacial View of Cation Effects on Electrocatalysis Systems. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202306103. [PMID: 37490318 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202306103] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
The identity of alkali metal cations in the electrolyte of electrocatalysis systems has been recently introduced as a crucial factor to tailor the kinetics and Faradaic efficiency of many electrocatalytic reactions. In this Minireview, we have summarized the recent advances in the molecular-level understanding of cation effects on relevant electrocatalytic processes such as hydrogen evolution (HER), oxygen evolution (OER), and CO2 electroreduction (CO2 RR) reactions. The discussion covers the effects of electrolyte cations on interfacial electric fields, structural organization of interfacial water molecules, blocking the catalytic active sites, stabilization or destabilization of intermediates, and interfacial pHs. These cation-induced interfacial phenomena have been reported to impact the performance (activity, selectivity, and stability) of electrochemical reactions collaboratively or independently. We describe that although there is almost a general agreement on the relationship between the size of alkali cations and the activities of HER, OER, and CO2 RR, however, the mechanism by which the performance of these electrocatalytic reactions is influenced by alkali metal cations is still in debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Khani
- Texas Materials Institute and Materials Science and Engineering Program, The, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Alain R Puente Santiago
- Texas Materials Institute and Materials Science and Engineering Program, The, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Tianwei He
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Materials & Technology, National Center for International Research on Photoelectric and Energy Materials, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
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19
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Zhao K, Yu H, Xiong H, Lu Q, Gao YQ, Xu B. Action at a distance: organic cation induced long range organization of interfacial water enhances hydrogen evolution and oxidation kinetics. Chem Sci 2023; 14:11076-11087. [PMID: 37860648 PMCID: PMC10583708 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03300g] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering efficient electrode-electrolyte interfaces for the hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HOR/HER) is central to the growing hydrogen economy. Existing descriptors for HOR/HER catalysts focused on species that could directly impact the immediate micro-environment of surface-mediated reactions, such as the binding energies of adsorbates. In this work, we demonstrate that bulky organic cations, such as tetrapropyl ammonium, are able to induce a long-range structure of interfacial water molecules and enhance the HOR/HER kinetics even though they are located outside the outer Helmholtz plane. Through a combination of electrokinetic analysis, molecular dynamics and in situ spectroscopic investigations, we propose that the structure-making ability of bulky hydrophobic cations promotes the formation of hydrogen-bonded water chains connecting the electrode surface to the bulk electrolyte. In alkaline electrolytes, the HOR/HER involve the activation of interfacial water by donating or abstracting protons. The structural diffusion mechanism of protons in aqueous electrolytes enables water molecules and cations located at a distance from the electrode to influence surface-mediated reactions. The findings reported in this work highlight the prospect of leveraging the nonlocal mechanism to enhance electrocatalytic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyue Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Hao Yu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Haocheng Xiong
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Qi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yi Qin Gao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Bingjun Xu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
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20
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Zhuansun M, Liu Y, Lu R, Zeng F, Xu Z, Wang Y, Yang Y, Wang Z, Zheng G, Wang Y. Promoting CO 2 Electroreduction to Multi-Carbon Products by Hydrophobicity-Induced Electro-Kinetic Retardation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202309875. [PMID: 37610152 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309875] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Advancing the performance of the Cu-catalyzed electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2 RR) is crucial for its practical applications. Still, the wettable pristine Cu surface often suffers from low exposure to CO2 , reducing the Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) and current densities for multi-carbon (C2+ ) products. Recent studies have proposed that increasing surface availability for CO2 by cation-exchange ionomers can enhance the C2+ product formation rates. However, due to the rapid formation and consumption of *CO, such promotion in reaction kinetics can shorten the residence of *CO whose adsorption determines C2+ selectivity, and thus the resulting C2+ FEs remain low. Herein, we discover that the electro-kinetic retardation caused by the strong hydrophobicity of quaternary ammonium group-functionalized polynorbornene ionomers can greatly prolong the *CO residence on Cu. This unconventional electro-kinetic effect is demonstrated by the increased Tafel slopes and the decreased sensitivity of *CO coverage change to potentials. As a result, the strongly hydrophobic Cu electrodes exhibit C2+ Faradaic efficiencies of ≈90 % at a partial current density of 223 mA cm-2 , more than twice of bare or hydrophilic Cu surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Zhuansun
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yue Liu
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ruihu Lu
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Fan Zeng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhanyou Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, N.T. Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, N.T. Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yaoyue Yang
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ziyun Wang
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Gengfeng Zheng
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Negative Carbon Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
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21
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Ni W, Guan Y, Chen H, Zhang Y, Wang S, Zhang S. Molecular Engineering of Cation Solvation Structure for Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303233. [PMID: 37507348 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303233] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Balancing the activation of H2 O is crucial for highly selective CO2 electroreduction (CO2 RR), as the protonation steps of CO2 RR require fast H2 O dissociation kinetics, while suppressing hydrogen evolution (HER) demands slow H2 O reduction. We herein proposed one molecular engineering strategy to regulate the H2 O activation using aprotic organic small molecules with high Gutmann donor number as a solvation shell regulator. These organic molecules occupy the first solvation shell of K+ and accumulate in the electrical double layer, decreasing the H2 O density at the interface and the relative content of proton suppliers (free and coordinated H2 O), suppressing the HER. The adsorbed H2 O was stabilized via the second sphere effect and its dissociation was promoted by weakening the O-H bond, which accelerates the subsequent *CO2 protonation kinetics and reduces the energy barrier. In the model electrolyte containing 5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an additive (KCl-DMSO-5), the highest CO selectivity over Ag foil increased to 99.2 %, with FECO higher than 90.0 % within -0.75 to -1.15 V (vs. RHE). This molecular engineering strategy for cation solvation shell can be extended to other metal electrodes, such as Zn and Sn, and organic molecules like N,N-dimethylformamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenpeng Ni
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
| | - Yongji Guan
- Institute of Optoelectronics and Electromagnetic Information, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Houjun Chen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
| | - Shuangyin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, Advanced Catalytic Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Shiguo Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
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22
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Le JB, Chen A, Kuang Y, Cheng J. Molecular understanding of cation effects on double layers and their significance to CO-CO dimerization. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad105. [PMID: 37842071 PMCID: PMC10575609 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cation effects have been shown in numerous experiments to play a significant role in electrocatalysis. To understand these effects at the molecular level, we systematically investigate the structures and capacitances of electric double layers with a variety of cations as counter charges at Pt(111)-COad/water interfaces with ab initio molecular dynamics. It is encouraging to find that the computed Helmholtz capacitances for different cations are in quantitative agreement with experiments, and that the trend of cation effects on capacitances shows clear correlation with the structures of interface cations of differing sizes and hydration energies. More importantly, we demonstrate the Helmholtz capacitance as the key descriptor for measuring the activity of CO-CO dimerization, the rate-determining step for C2+ formation in electroreduction of CO and CO2. Our work provides atomistic insights into cation effects on electric double layers and electrocatalysis that are crucial for optimizing electrode and electrolyte materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Bo Le
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Ao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yongbo Kuang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Jun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361100, China
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23
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Abstract
Electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to valuable chemicals and fuels driven by renewable energy plays a crucial role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Understanding the structure-activity relationship and the reaction mechanism is significant for tuning electrocatalyst selectivity. Therefore, characterizing catalyst dynamic evolution and reaction intermediates under reaction conditions is necessary but still challenging. We first summarize the most recent progress in mechanistic understanding of heterogeneous CO2/CO reduction using in situ/operando techniques, including surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies, X-ray- and electron-based techniques, and mass spectroscopy, along with discussing remaining limitations. We then offer insights and perspectives to accelerate the future development of in situ/operando techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjorn Hasa
- Center for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA;
| | - Yaran Zhao
- BNU-HKUST Laboratory of Green Innovation, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Feng Jiao
- Center for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA;
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24
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Yang J, Kang X, Jiao J, Xing X, Yin Y, Jia S, Chu M, Han S, Xia W, Wu H, He M, Han B. Ternary Ionic-Liquid-Based Electrolyte Enables Efficient Electro-reduction of CO 2 over Bulk Metal Electrodes. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:11512-11517. [PMID: 37196054 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Using bulk metals as catalysts to get high efficiency in electro-reduction of CO2 is ideal but challenging. Here, we report the coupling of bulk metal electrodes and a ternary ionic-liquid-based electrolyte, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/MeCN to realize highly efficient electro-reduction of CO2 to CO. Over various bulk metal electrodes, the ternary electrolyte not only increases the current density but also suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction to obtain a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) toward CO. FECO could maintain ∼100% over a wide potential range, and metal electrodes showed very high stability in the ternary electrolyte. It is demonstrated that the aggregation behavior of the ternary electrolyte and the arrangement of two kinds of IL cations with different chain lengths in the electrochemical double layer not only increase the wettability to electrode and CO2 adsorption but also extend the diffusion channel of H+, rendering the high current density and FECO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xinchen Kang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, 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
| | - Xueqing Xing
- Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yaoyu Yin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, 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
| | - Mengen Chu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Shitao Han
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, 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
| | - 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
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming, 20 Cuiniao Road, Chenjia Town, Chongming District, Shanghai 202162, China
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25
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Kormányos A, Endrődi B, Zhang Z, Samu A, Mérai L, Samu GF, Janovák L, Janáky C. Local hydrophobicity allows high-performance electrochemical carbon monoxide reduction to C 2+ products. EES CATALYSIS 2023; 1:263-273. [PMID: 37213934 PMCID: PMC10193833 DOI: 10.1039/d3ey00006k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
While CO can already be produced at industrially relevant current densities via CO2 electrolysis, the selective formation of C2+ products seems challenging. CO electrolysis, in principle, can overcome this barrier, hence forming valuable chemicals from CO2 in two steps. Here we demonstrate that a mass-produced, commercially available polymeric pore sealer can be used as a catalyst binder, ensuring high rate and selective CO reduction. We achieved above 70% faradaic efficiency for C2+ products formation at j = 500 mA cm-2 current density. As no specific interaction between the polymer and the CO reactant was found, we attribute the stable and selective operation of the electrolyzer cell to the controlled wetting of the catalyst layer due to the homogeneous polymer coating on the catalyst particles' surface. These results indicate that sophistically designed surface modifiers are not necessarily required for CO electrolysis, but a simpler alternative can in some cases lead to the same reaction rate, selectivity and energy efficiency; hence the capital costs can be significantly decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Kormányos
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
| | - Balázs Endrődi
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
| | - Angelika Samu
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
| | - László Mérai
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
| | - Gergely F Samu
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU Non-Profit Ltd., Wolfgang Sandner 3 Szeged H-6728 Hungary
| | - László Janovák
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
| | - Csaba Janáky
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi sq. 1 Szeged 6720 Hungary
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU Non-Profit Ltd., Wolfgang Sandner 3 Szeged H-6728 Hungary
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26
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Tseng C, Pennathur AK, Blauth D, Salazar N, Dawlaty JM. Direct Determination of Plasmon Enhancement Factor and Penetration Depths in Surface Enhanced IR Absorption Spectroscopy. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:3179-3184. [PMID: 36812524 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (SEIRAS) is a powerful tool for studying a wide range of surface and electrochemical phenomena. For most electrochemical experiments the evanescent field of an IR beam partially penetrates through a thin metal electrode deposited on top of an attenuated total reflection (ATR) crystal to interact with molecules of interest. Despite its success, a major problem that complicates quantitative interpretation of the spectra from this method is the ambiguity of the enhancement factor due to plasmon effects in metals. We developed a systematic method for measuring this, which relies upon independent determination of surface coverage by Coulometry of a surface-bound redox-active species. Following that, we measure the SEIRAS spectrum of the surface bound species, and from the knowledge of surface coverage, retrieve the effective molar absorptivity, εSEIRAS. Comparing this to the independently determined bulk molar absorptivity leads us to the enhancement factor f = εSEIRAS/εbulk. We report enhancement factors in excess of 1000 for the C-H stretches of surface bound ferrocene molecules. We additionally developed a methodical approach to measure the penetration depth of the evanescent field from the metal electrode into a thin film. Such systematic measure of the enhancement factor and penetration depth will help SEIRAS advance from a qualitative to a more quantitative method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Tseng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, California, Los Angeles 90089, United States
| | - Anuj K Pennathur
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, California, Los Angeles 90089, United States
| | - Drew Blauth
- Department of Chemistry, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon 97219, United States
| | - Noemi Salazar
- Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jahan M Dawlaty
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, California, Los Angeles 90089, United States
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27
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Bonagiri LKS, Panse KS, Zhou S, Wu H, Aluru NR, Zhang Y. Real-Space Charge Density Profiling of Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces with Angstrom Depth Resolution. ACS NANO 2022; 16:19594-19604. [PMID: 36351178 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation and depletion of charges at electrode-electrolyte interfaces is crucial for all types of electrochemical processes. However, the spatial profile of such interfacial charges remains largely elusive. Here we develop charge profiling three-dimensional (3D) atomic force microscopy (CP-3D-AFM) to experimentally quantify the real-space charge distribution of the electrode surface and electric double layers (EDLs) with angstrom depth resolution. We first measure the 3D force maps at different electrode potentials using our recently developed electrochemical 3D-AFM. Through statistical analysis, peak deconvolution, and electrostatic calculations, we derive the depth profile of the local charge density. We perform such charge profiling for two types of emergent electrolytes, ionic liquids, and highly concentrated aqueous solutions, observe pronounced sub-nanometer charge variations, and find the integrated charge densities to agree with those derived from macroscopic electrochemical measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalith Krishna Samanth Bonagiri
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
| | - Kaustubh S Panse
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
| | - Shan Zhou
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
| | - Haiyi Wu
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas78712, United States
| | - Narayana R Aluru
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas78712, United States
| | - Yingjie Zhang
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois61801, United States
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28
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Fundamental aspects in CO2 electroreduction reaction and solutions from in situ vibrational spectroscopies. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2067(22)64095-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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29
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Liu H, Patel DM, Chen Y, Lee J, Lee TH, Cady SD, Cochran EW, Roling LT, Li W. Unraveling Electroreductive Mechanisms of Biomass-Derived Aldehydes via Tailoring Interfacial Environments. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hengzhou Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Deep M. Patel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Yifu Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Jungkuk Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Ting-Han Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Sarah D. Cady
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, 2415 Osborn Drive, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Eric W. Cochran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Luke T. Roling
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
| | - Wenzhen Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, 618 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa50011, United States
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30
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Wang X, Hu Q, Li G, Yang H, He C. Recent Advances and Perspectives of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Toward C2+ Products on Cu-Based Catalysts. ELECTROCHEM ENERGY R 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s41918-022-00171-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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31
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Chen C, Yu S, Yang Y, Louisia S, Roh I, Jin J, Chen S, Chen PC, Shan Y, Yang P. Exploration of the bio-analogous asymmetric C–C coupling mechanism in tandem CO2 electroreduction. Nat Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00844-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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32
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Medium-independent hydrogen atom binding isotherms of nickel oxide electrodes. Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2022.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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33
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Malali P, Muchharla B, Sadasivuni KK, Cao W, Elsayed-Ali HE, Adedeji A, Karoui A, Abdullah AM, Spurgeon JM, Kumar B. Low Platinum-Loaded Molybdenum Co-catalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline and Acidic Media. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:9526-9531. [PMID: 35900104 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Developing an efficient catalytic system for electrolysis with reduced platinum (Pt) loading while maintaining performance comparable to bulk platinum metal is important to decrease costs and improve scalability of the hydrogen fuel economy. Here we report the performance of a novel sputter-deposited molybdenum (Mo) thin film with an extremely low co-loading of Pt, where Pt atoms were dispersed on Mo (Ptd-Mo) as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in either alkaline or acidic media. The Ptd-Mo electrocatalyst presents similar catalytic activity to bulk Pt in alkaline media, while the performance is only slightly decreased in acidic media. Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) results confirm that the Ptd-Mo electrocatalyst produced hydrogen at a rate comparable with that of a pristine Pt sample at the same potential. A comparison with Pt-loaded degenerately doped p-type doped silicon (Ptd-Si) suggests that Mo and Pt work synergistically to boost the performance of Ptd-Mo catalysts. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before and after 1000 cycles of continuous operation confirm the significant durability of the Ptd-Mo performance. Overall, the Ptd-Mo electrocatalyst, with comparable HER activity to bulk Pt despite an ultra-low Pt loading, could be a strong candidate for hydrogen production in either acidic or basic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Malali
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Technology, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, United States
| | - Baleeswaraiah Muchharla
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Technology, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, United States
| | | | - Wei Cao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, United States
| | - Hani E Elsayed-Ali
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, United States
| | - Adetayo Adedeji
- Department of Natural Sciences, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, United States
| | - Abdennaceur Karoui
- Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST), Department of Mathematics and Physics, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina 27707, United States
| | | | - Joshua M Spurgeon
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
| | - Bijandra Kumar
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Technology, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, United States
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34
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Defining the challenges of Li extraction with olivine host: The roles of competitor and spectator ions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200751119. [PMID: 35878020 PMCID: PMC9351491 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200751119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The lithium supply issue mainly lies in the inability of current mining methods to access lithium sources of dilute concentrations and complex chemistry. Electrochemical intercalation has emerged as a highly selective method for lithium extraction; however, limited source compositions have been studied, which is insufficient to predict its applicability to the wide range of unconventional water sources (UWS). This work addresses the feasibility and identifies the challenges of Li extraction by electrochemical intercalation from UWS, by answering three questions: 1) Is there enough Li in UWS? 2) How would the solution compositions affect the competition of Li+ to major ions (Na+/Mg2+/K+/Ca2+)? 3) Does the complex solution composition affect the electrode stability? Using one-dimensional olivine FePO4 as the model electrode, we show the complicated roles of major ions. Na+ acts as the competitor ion for host storage sites. The competition from Na+ grants Mg2+ and Ca2+ being only the spectator ions. However, Mg2+ and Ca2+ can significantly affect the charge transfer of Li+ and Na+, therefore affecting the Li selectivity. We point to improving the selectivity of Li+ to Na+ as the key challenge for broadening the minable UWS using the olivine host.
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35
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A Tiny Pore-Confined Solid-Liquid Interface for In-situ ToF-SIMS Electrochemistry of Nitrobenzoic Acid. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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36
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Shao F, Wong JK, Low QH, Iannuzzi M, Li J, Lan J. In situ spectroelectrochemical probing of CO redox landscape on copper single-crystal surfaces. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2118166119. [PMID: 35858341 PMCID: PMC9304001 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118166119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemical reduction of CO(2) to value-added chemicals and fuels is a promising strategy to sustain pressing renewable energy demands and to address climate change issues. Direct observation of reaction intermediates during the CO(2) reduction reaction will contribute to mechanistic understandings and thus promote the design of catalysts with the desired activity, selectivity, and stability. Herein, we combined in situ electrochemical shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations to investigate the CORR process on Cu single-crystal surfaces in various electrolytes. Competing redox pathways and coexistent intermediates of CO adsorption (*COatop and *CObridge), dimerization (protonated dimer *HOCCOH and its dehydrated *CCO), oxidation (*CO2- and *CO32-), and hydrogenation (*CHO), as well as Cu-Oad/Cu-OHad species at Cu-electrolyte interfaces, were simultaneously identified using in situ spectroscopy and further confirmed with isotope-labeling experiments. With AIMD simulations, we report accurate vibrational frequency assignments of these intermediates based on the calculated vibrational density of states and reveal the corresponding species in the electrochemical CO redox landscape on Cu surfaces. Our findings provide direct insights into key intermediates during the CO(2)RR and offer a full-spectroscopic tool (40-4,000 cm-1) for future mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Jun Kit Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Qi Hang Low
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
- Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117574, Singapore
| | - Marcella Iannuzzi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Jingguo Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Jinggang Lan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
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37
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Ovalle VJ, Hsu YS, Agrawal N, Janik MJ, Waegele MM. Correlating hydration free energy and specific adsorption of alkali metal cations during CO2 electroreduction on Au. Nat Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00816-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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38
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Rebstock JA, Zhu Q, Baker LR. Comparing interfacial cation hydration at catalytic active sites and spectator sites on gold electrodes: understanding structure sensitive CO 2 reduction kinetics. Chem Sci 2022; 13:7634-7643. [PMID: 35872825 PMCID: PMC9242014 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01878k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrated cations present in the electrochemical double layer (EDL) are known to play a crucial role in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2R), and numerous studies have attempted to explain how the cation effect contributes to the complex CO2R mechanism. CO2R is a structure sensitive reaction, indicating that a small fraction of total surface sites may account for the majority of catalytic turnover. Despite intense interest in specific cation effects, probing site-specific, cation-dependent solvation structures remains a significant challenge. In this work, CO adsorbed on Au is used as a vibrational Stark reporter to indirectly probe solvation structure using vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy. Two modes corresponding to atop adsorption of CO are observed with unique frequency shifts and potential-dependent intensity profiles, corresponding to direct adsorption of CO to inactive surface sites, and in situ generated CO produced at catalytic active sites. Analysis of the cation-dependent Stark tuning slopes for each of these species provides estimates of the hydrated cation radius upon adsorption to active and inactive sites on the Au electrode. While cations are found to retain their bulk hydration shell upon adsorption at inactive sites, catalytic active sites are characterized by a single layer of water between the Au surface and the electrolyte cation. We propose that the drastic increase in catalytic performance at active sites stems from this unique solvation structure at the Au/electrolyte interface. Building on this evidence of a site-specific EDL structure will be critical to understand the connection between cation-dependent interfacial solvation and CO2R performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn A Rebstock
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - Quansong Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - L Robert Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
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39
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Modulating electric field distribution by alkali cations for CO2 electroreduction in strongly acidic medium. Nat Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00761-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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40
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Ge W, Chen Y, Fan Y, Zhu Y, Liu H, Song L, Liu Z, Lian C, Jiang H, Li C. Dynamically Formed Surfactant Assembly at the Electrified Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Boosting CO 2 Electroreduction. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:6613-6622. [PMID: 35380035 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic reactions occur in the nanoscale space at the electrified electrode-electrolyte interface. It is well known that the electrode-electrolyte interface, also called as interfacial microenvironment, is difficult to investigate due to the interference of bulk electrolytes and its dynamic evolution in response to applied bias potential. Here, we employ electrochemical co-reduction of CO2 and H2O on commercial Ag electrodes as a model system, in conjunction with quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants as electrolyte additives. We probe bias-potential-driven dynamic response of the interfacial microenvironment as well as the mechanistic origin of catalytic selectivity. By virtue of comprehensive in situ vibrational spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, it is revealed that the structure of surfactants is dynamically changed from a random distribution to a nearly ordered assembly with increasing bias potential. The nearly ordered surfactant assembly regulates the interfacial water environment by repelling isolated water and suppressing water orientation into an ordered structure as well as promotes CO2 enrichment at the electrified interface. Eventually, the formed hydrophobic-aerophilic interface microenvironment reduces the activity of water dissociation and increases the selectivity of CO2 electroreduction to CO. These results highlight the importance of regulating the interfacial microenvironment by organic additives as a means of boosting the electrochemical performance in electrosynthesis and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangxin Ge
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuxin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yu Fan
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yihua Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Honglai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Li Song
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230029, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Cheng Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Hongliang Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Chunzhong Li
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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41
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Yu S, Louisia S, Yang P. The Interactive Dynamics of Nanocatalyst Structure and Microenvironment during Electrochemical CO 2 Conversion. JACS AU 2022; 2:562-572. [PMID: 35373197 PMCID: PMC8965827 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In the pursuit of a decarbonized society, electrocatalytic CO2 conversion has drawn tremendous research interest in recent years as a promising route to recycling CO2 into more valuable chemicals. To achieve high catalytic activity and selectivity, nanocatalysts of diverse structures and compositions have been designed. However, the dynamic structural transformation of the nanocatalysts taking place under operating conditions makes it difficult to study active site configurations present during the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). In addition, although recognized as consequential to the catalytic performance, the reaction microenvironment generated near the nanocatalyst surface during CO2RR and its impact are still an understudied research area. In this Perspective, we discuss current understandings and difficulties associated with investigating such dynamic aspects of both the surface reaction site and its surrounding reaction environment as a whole. We further highlight the interactive influence of the structural transformation and the microenvironment on the catalytic performance of nanocatalysts. We also present future research directions to control the structural evolution of nanocatalysts and tailor their reaction microenvironment to achieve an ideal catalyst for improved electrochemical CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunmoon Yu
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Sheena Louisia
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Peidong Yang
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Kavli
Energy NanoScience Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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42
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Zhu Q, Wallentine SK, Deng GH, Rebstock JA, Baker LR. The Solvation-Induced Onsager Reaction Field Rather than the Double-Layer Field Controls CO 2 Reduction on Gold. JACS AU 2022; 2:472-482. [PMID: 35252996 PMCID: PMC8889607 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The selectivity and activity of the carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R) reaction are sensitive functions of the electrolyte cation. By measuring the vibrational Stark shift of in situ-generated CO on Au in the presence of alkali cations, we quantify the total electric field present at catalytic active sites and deconvolute this field into contributions from (1) the electrochemical Stern layer and (2) the Onsager (or solvation-induced) reaction field. Contrary to recent theoretical reports, the CO2R kinetics does not depend on the Stern field but instead is closely correlated with the strength of the Onsager reaction field. These results show that in the presence of adsorbed (bent) CO2, the Onsager field greatly exceeds the Stern field and is primarily responsible for CO2 activation. Additional measurements of the cation-dependent water spectra using vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy show that interfacial solvation strongly influences the CO2R activity. These combined results confirm that the cation-dependent interfacial water structure and its associated electric field must be explicitly considered for accurate understanding of CO2R reaction kinetics.
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43
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Banerjee S, Gerke CS, Thoi VS. Guiding CO 2RR Selectivity by Compositional Tuning in the Electrochemical Double Layer. Acc Chem Res 2022; 55:504-515. [PMID: 35119260 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to value-added chemicals provides an environmentally benign alternative to current industrial practices. However, current electrocatalytic systems for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) are not practical for industrialization, owing to poor specific product selectivity and/or limited activity. Interfacial engineering presents a versatile and effective method to direct CO2RR selectivity by fine-tuning the local chemical dynamics. This Account describes interfacial design strategies developed in our laboratory that use electrolyte engineering and porous carbon materials to modify the local composition at the electrode-electrolyte interface.Our first strategy for influencing surface reactivity is to perturb the electrochemical double layer by tuning the electrolyte composition. We approached this investigation by considering how charged molecular additives can organize at the electrode surface and impact CO2 activation. Using a combination of advanced electrochemical techniques and in situ vibrational spectroscopy, we show that the surfactant properties (the identity of the headgroup, alkyl chain length, and concentration) as well as the electrolyte cation identity can affect how surfactant molecules assemble at a biased electrode. The interplay between the electrolyte cations and the surfactant additives can be regulated to favor specific carbon products, such as HCOO-, and suppress the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Together, our findings highlight how molecular assemblies can be used to design selective electrocatalytic systems.In addition to the electrolyte design, the local spatial confinement of reaction intermediates presents another strategy to direct CO2RR selectivity. We were interested in uncovering the role of porous carbon-supported catalysts toward selective carbon product formation. In our initial study, we show that carbon porosity can be optimized to enhance C2H4 and CO selectivity in a series of Cu catalysts embedded in a tunable carbon aerogel matrix. These results suggested that local confinement of the active surface plays a role in CO2 activation and motivated an investigation into probing how this phenomenon can be translated to a planar Cu electrode. Our findings show that carbon modifiers facilitated surface reconstruction and regulated CO2 diffusion to suppress HER and improve the C2-3 product selectivity. Given the ubiquity of carbon materials in catalysis, this work demonstrates that carbon plays an active role in regulating selectivity by restricting the diffusion of substrate and reaction intermediates. Our work in tuning the composition of the electrochemical double layer for increased CO2RR selectivity demonstrates the potential versatility in boosting catalytic performance across an array of catalytic systems.
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44
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Xu A, Govindarajan N, Kastlunger G, Vijay S, Chan K. Theories for Electrolyte Effects in CO 2 Electroreduction. Acc Chem Res 2022; 55:495-503. [PMID: 35107967 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) enables the conversion of waste CO2 to high-value fuels and commodity chemicals powered by renewable electricity, thereby offering a viable strategy for reaching the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. Research in the past few decades has focused both on the optimization of the catalyst (electrode) and the electrolyte environment. Surface-area normalized current densities show that the latter can affect the CO2 reduction activity by up to a few orders of magnitude.In this Account, we review theories of the mechanisms behind the effects of the electrolyte (cations, anions, and the electrolyte pH) on eCO2R. As summarized in the conspectus graphic, the electrolyte influences eCO2R activity via a field (ε) effect on dipolar (μ) reaction intermediates, changing the proton donor for the multi-step proton-electron transfer reaction, specifically adsorbed anions on the catalyst surface to block active sites, and tuning the local environment by homogeneous reactions. To be specific, alkali metal cations (M+) can stabilize reaction intermediates via electrostatic interactions with dipolar intermediates or buffer the interfacial pH via hydrolysis reactions, thereby promoting the eCO2R activity with the following trend in hydrated size (corresponding to the local field strength ε)/hydrolysis ability: Cs+ > K+ > Na+ > Li+. The effect of the electrolyte pH can give a change in eCO2R activity of up to several orders of magnitude, arising from linearly shifting the absolute interfacial field via the relationship USHE = URHE - (2.3kBT)pH, homogeneous reactions between OH- and desorbed intermediates, or changing the proton donor from hydronium to water along with increasing pH. Anions have been suggested to affect the eCO2R reaction process by solution-phase reactions (e.g., buffer reactions to tune local pH), acting as proton donors or as a surface poison.So far, the existing models of electrolyte effects have been used to rationalize various experimentally observed trends, having yet to demonstrate general predictive capabilities. The major challenges in our understanding of the electrolyte effect in eCO2R are (i) the long time scale associated with a dynamic ab initio picture of the catalyst|electrolyte interface and (ii) the overall activity determined by the length-scale interplay of intrinsic microkinetics, homogeneous reactions, and mass transport limitations. New developments in ab initio dynamic models and coupling the effects of mass transport can provide a more accurate view of the structure and intrinsic functions of the electrode-electrolyte interface and the corresponding reaction energetics toward comprehensive and predictive models for electrolyte design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoni Xu
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nitish Govindarajan
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sudarshan Vijay
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karen Chan
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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45
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Zhu Q, Murphy CJ, Baker LR. Opportunities for Electrocatalytic CO 2 Reduction Enabled by Surface Ligands. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:2829-2840. [PMID: 35137579 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c11500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
To achieve high selectivity in enzyme catalysis, nature carefully controls both the catalyst active site and the pocket or environment that mediates access and the geometry of a reactant. Despite the many advantages of heterogeneous catalysis, active sites on a surface are rarely defined with atomic precision, making it difficult to control reaction selectivity with the molecular precision of homogeneous systems. In colloidal nanoparticle synthesis, structural control is accomplished using a surface ligand or capping layer that stabilizes a specific particle morphology and prevents nanoparticle aggregation. Usually, these surface ligands are considered detrimental for catalysis because they occupy otherwise active surface sites. However, a number of examples have shown that surface ligands can play a beneficial role in defining the catalytic environment and enhancing performance by a variety of mechanisms. This perspective summarizes recent advances and opportunities using surface ligands to enhance the performance of nanocatalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Several mechanisms are discussed, including selective permeability, modulating interfacial solvation structure and electric fields, chemical activation, and templating active site selection. These examples inform strategies and point to emerging opportunities to design nanocatalysts toward molecular level control of electrochemical CO2 conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quansong Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Catherine J Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - L Robert Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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46
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Chen C, Wang T, Yan K, Liu S, Zhao Y, Li B. Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction on Cu single atoms incorporated in ordered macroporous TiO 2 toward tunable products. Inorg Chem Front 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2qi01155g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The Cu/3DOM-TiO2 photocatalyst exhibits high performance toward CO2 to CH4 conversion in a gas–solid system while producing C2H4 in a liquid–solid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Ke Yan
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Shoujie Liu
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou 515063, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, PR China
| | - Benxia Li
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
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47
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Kumar Ummireddi A, Kumar Sharma S, Ganesh S. Pala R. Influence of Tetraethylammonium Cation on Electrochemical CO2 Reduction over Cu, Ag, Ni, and Fe Surfaces. J Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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48
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Deng B, Huang M, Zhao X, Mou S, Dong F. Interfacial Electrolyte Effects on Electrocatalytic CO 2 Reduction. ACS Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c03501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bangwei Deng
- Research Center for Environmental Science and Energy Catalysis, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, People’s Republic of China
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Huang
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- Research Center for Environmental Science and Energy Catalysis, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiyong Mou
- Research Center for Environmental Science and Energy Catalysis, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan Dong
- Research Center for Environmental Science and Energy Catalysis, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, People’s Republic of China
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, People’s Republic of China
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49
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Potts DS, Bregante DT, Adams JS, Torres C, Flaherty DW. Influence of solvent structure and hydrogen bonding on catalysis at solid-liquid interfaces. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:12308-12337. [PMID: 34569580 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00539a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Solvent molecules interact with reactive species and alter the rates and selectivities of catalytic reactions by orders of magnitude. Specifically, solvent molecules can modify the free energies of liquid phase and surface species via solvation, participating directly as a reactant or co-catalyst, or competitively binding to active sites. These effects carry consequences for reactions relevant for the conversion of renewable or recyclable feedstocks, the development of distributed chemical manufacturing, and the utilization of renewable energy to drive chemical reactions. First, we describe the quantitative impact of these effects on steady-state catalytic turnover rates through a rate expression derived for a generic catalytic reaction (A → B), which illustrates the functional dependence of rates on each category of solvent interaction. Second, we connect these concepts to recent investigations of the effects of solvents on catalysis to show how interactions between solvent and reactant molecules at solid-liquid interfaces influence catalytic reactions. This discussion demonstrates that the design of effective liquid phase catalytic processes benefits from a clear understanding of these intermolecular interactions and their implications for rates and selectivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Potts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Daniel T Bregante
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Jason S Adams
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Chris Torres
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - David W Flaherty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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50
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Wang Y, Liu J, Zheng G. Designing Copper-Based Catalysts for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005798. [PMID: 33913569 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) has been emerging as a high- potential approach for CO2 utilization using renewables. When copper (Cu) based catalysts are used, this platform can produce multi-carbon (C2+ ) fuels and chemicals with almost net-zero emission, contributing to the closure of the anthropogenic carbon cycle. Nonetheless, the rational design and development of Cu-based catalysts are critical toward the realization of highly selective and efficient CO2 electroreduction. In this review, first the latest advances in Cu-catalyzed CO2 electroreduction in the product selectivity and electrocatalytic activity are briefly summarized. Then, recent theoretical and mechanistic studies of CO2 electroreduction on Cu-based catalysts are investigated, which serve as programs to design catalysts. Strategies for devising Cu catalysts that aim at promoting different key elementary steps for hydrocarbon and C2+ oxygenates production are further summarized. Moreover, challenges in understanding the mechanism, operando investigation of Cu catalysts and reactions, and systems' influences are also presented. Finally, the future prospects of CO2 electroreduction are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wang
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Junlang Liu
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Gengfeng Zheng
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
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