An
atomically dispersed structure is attractive for electrochemically
converting carbon dioxide (CO2) to fuels and feedstock
due to its unique properties and activity. Most single-atom electrocatalysts
are reported to reduce CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO). Herein,
we develop atomically dispersed indium (In) on a nitrogen-doped carbon
skeleton (In–N–C) as an efficient catalyst to produce
formic acid/formate in aqueous media, reaching a turnover frequency
as high as 26771 h–1 at −0.99 V relative
to a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Electrochemical measurements
show that trace amounts of In loaded on the carbon matrix significantly
improve the electrocatalytic behavior for the CO2 reduction
reaction, outperforming conventional metallic In catalysts. Further
experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal
that the formation of intermediate *OCHO on isolated In sites plays
a pivotal role in the efficiency of the CO2-to-formate
process, which has a lower energy barrier than that on metallic In.
Novel
Co atoms immobilized carbon nanotubes (CoSAs@CNTs) are synthesized
by structural engineering of the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67)
upon treatment with dicyandiamide (DCD). A unique morphology and promising
electrochemical performance are shown by the Co atoms immobilized
CNTs. The electrocatalyst remarkably exhibits a highly positive onset
potential of 0.99 V and half-wave potential of 0.86 V, both even more
positive than the commercial Pt/C catalyst, and the current density
is also greater than that of the Pt/C catalyst in alkaline media.
A decent performance is observed in acidic media also. The electrocatalyst
is extraordinarily stable to harsh environments. A promising performance
for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is demonstrated by the electrocatalyst,
while for bifunctional electrocatalysis a small overvoltage of 0.78
V is observed with onset potential at the lower overpotential of 300
mV announcing the advantage of its usage for practical energy conversion
and storage systems. This novel study may provide a new road map for
fuel cell technology.
A Ni2P/N,P-codoped carbon nanosheet were prepared. The N,P-C substrate is regarded as an electronic storage medium which playing a vital role in inhibiting the adsorption of H+ and promoting activation of N2 molecules.
Global demand for green and clean energy is increasing day by day owing to ongoing developments by the human race that are changing the face of the earth at a rate faster than ever. Exploring alternative sources of energy to replace fossil fuel consumption has become even more vital to control the growing concentration of CO 2 , and reduction of CO 2 into CO or other useful hydrocarbons (e.g., C 1 and C ≥2 products), as well as reduction of N 2 into ammonia, can greatly help in this regard. Various materials have been developed for the reduction of CO 2 and N 2 . The introduction of pores in these materials by porosity engineering has been demonstrated to be highly effective in increasing the efficiency of the involved redox reactions, over 40% increment for CO 2 reduction to date, by providing an increased number of exposed facets, kinks, edges, and catalytically active sites of catalysts. By shaping the surface porous structure, the selectivity of the redox reaction can also be enhanced. In order to better understand this area benefiting rational design for future solutions, this review systematically summarizes and constructively discusses the porosity engineering in catalytic materials, including various synthesis methods, characterization of porous materials, and the effects of porosity on performance of CO 2 reduction and N 2 reduction.
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