Amphiphilic Cobalt Phthalocyanine Boosts Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Abstract

Due to the easy accessibility, chemical stability and structural tunability of macrocyclic skeleton, cobalt phthalocyanines immobilized on carbon supports offer an ideal research model for advanced electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCO2RR). Herein, for the first time, an amphiphilic cobalt phthalocyanine (TC‐CoPc) is loaded on multiwalled carbon nanotubes to unveral the roles of hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties on catalytic efficiency. To our surprise, the resultant electrode exhibits FECO of 95% for CO2RR with TOF of 29.4 s−1 at the overpotential of 0.585 V over long‐term electrolysis in H‐type cell. In membrane electrode assembly device (MEA), the boosted transport of water vapor to catalyst layer slows down carbonate crystallization and enhances the stability of the electrode with FECO value of > 99% over 27 hours at −0.25 A, which represents the best selectivity and stability among reported molecular catalysts in MEA devices. The amphiphilic cobalt phthalocyanine, which decreases interfacial charge and mass transfer resistance and maintains effective contact between active sites and the electrolyte, highlights the exceptional CO2 conversion from molecular perspective.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Red blood cell (RBC)-like Ni@N–C composites for efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction and Zn–CO2 batteries

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