Selective CO2 electroreduction to methanol via enhanced oxygen bonding

Abstract

The reduction of carbon dioxide using electrochemical cells is an appealing technology to store renewable electricity in a chemical form. The preferential adsorption of oxygen over carbon atoms of intermediates could improve the methanol selectivity due to the retention of C–O bond. However, the adsorbent-surface interaction is mainly related to the d states of transition metals in catalysts, thus it is difficult to promote the formation of oxygen-bound intermediates without affecting the carbon affinity. This paper describes the construction of a molybdenum-based metal carbide catalyst that promotes the formation and adsorption of oxygen-bound intermediates, where the sp states in catalyst are enabled to participate in the bonding of intermediates. A high Faradaic efficiency of 80.4% for methanol is achieved at −1.1 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode.

Energy crisis in Europe enhances the sustainability of green chemicals

“…51 Methanol has remained a minor product in the direct electrocatalytic conversion of CO 2 , though molybdenum-based catalysts have signalled promise for further development. 52 Our findings indicate that the increasing energy prices in Europe can potentially establish cost-competitive production routes of green ammonia and methanol, thus overcoming the primary obstacle to their implementation in a sustainable chemical industry. By embracing this transformation, the European chemical industry has the opportunity to lead the grand transition in the global movement towards environmentally responsible practices while simultaneously reaping significant economic benefits in the long run.…”

Defect-enrichment in porous interface of ultrathin CuO nanobelts realizes a novel CO2photoreduction pathway

“…To address the previous serious limitations, the objectives of high-efficiency catalyst design, include but are not limited to: (1) improve the mass transfer efficiency of obtained catalysts, 5 (2) increase the catalytically essential sites, and precisely manipulate the interaction between the active site and the reaction intermediate to customize the unique reaction pathway towards the desired CH 3 OH generation during CO 2 RR. 6,7 As such, many efforts have been made to construct catalysts for CO 2 photoreduction, with strategies such as nanostructure engineering, 8–10 heterostructures, 11–13 surface modification 14 and defect engineering 15–17 to tune their electronic structures and surface atomic arrangement for achieving a better CH 3 OH yield and selectivity by improving the previous objectives. Among the materials used so far, copper-based materials are known as unique star series, which can convert CO 2 into liquid or value-added multicarbon (C 2+ ) compounds with impressive yield and efficiency.…”

High‐Rate CO2 Electrolysis to Formic Acid over a Wide Potential Window: An Electrocatalyst Comprised of Indium Nanoparticles on Chitosan‐Derived Graphene

“…[8] Mo based carbides NPs were also decorated onto the N-doped nanotubes to promote the formation and adsorption of oxygen-bound intermediates, achieving a high FE of 80.4 % for methanol. [9] In another study, single atom Cu was encapsulated on N-doped porous carbon to form efficient catalysts for promoting CÀ C in the CO 2 RR with an acetone FE of 36.7 %. [10] As such, it is significant to develop simple and easy-to-control strategies to synthesize carbon-supported metal catalysts to achieve improved CO 2 RR activity.…”