二氧化碳电催化还原中的电解质效应

二氧化碳(CO_(2))电催化还原反应利用可再生能源将CO_(2)转化为高值燃料和化学品,是一种新型的碳中和技术。CO_(2)电催化还原反应在电极/电解质界面上进行,因此除催化剂以外,电解质对提高CO_(2)电催化还原反应性能同样至关重要。本文深度剖析了CO_(2)电催化还原反应中的电解质效应,结合近几年的最新研究进展,详细讨论了局部pH、阳离子、阴离子和离子交换膜等电解质组成和性质对电催化活性和产物选择性的影响,阐述了电解质效应的催化作用机制。本文特别强调了电化学原位红外/拉曼等振动光谱在电解质效应机理研究方面的优势以及面向实际应用的膜电极CO_(2)电解器中阴离子、阳离子、水、液体产物等物质传输对活性、选择性、能量效率及CO_(2)利用效率等关键催化性能指标的影响。本文最后提出了当前电解质效应研究中存在的挑战,并展望了未来的研究机遇和发展趋势。

Amorphous Sn(HPO_(4))_(2)-derived phosphorus-modified Sn/SnO_(x) core/shell catalyst for efficient CO_(2) electroreduction to formate

Simultaneously achieving high activity,selectivity and stability for electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)remains great challenges.Herein,a phosphorus-modified Sn/Sn Oxcore/shell(P-Sn/SnO_x)catalyst,derived from in situ electrochemical reduction of an amorphous Sn(HPO_(4))_(2) pre-catalyst,exhibits high CO_(2)RR performance.The total Faradaic efficiency(FE)of C_(1) products is close to 100%in a broad potential range from-0.49 to-1.02 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode,and a total current density of 315.0 m A cm^(-2)is achieved.Moreover,the P-Sn/SnO_(x) catalyst maintains a formate FE of~90%for 120 h.Density functional theory calculations suggest that the phosphorus-modified Sn/SnO_(x) core/shell structure effectively facilitates formate production by enhancing CO_(2)adsorption and improving free energy profile of formate formation.

用于二氧化碳电催化还原的电解器研究进展

可再生能源驱动的二氧化碳电催化还原反应(CO_(2)RR)是实现CO_(2)高效转化和利用的有效途径。电解器的理性设计对于提高CO_(2)RR性能及其工业放大应用具有重要意义。电解器构型及其操作条件在很大程度上决定了电极附近的局部反应环境,从而调变催化性能。本文深度剖析了三种CO_(2)电解器(H型电解池、流动电解池和膜电极电解池)的研究进展和现状,结合文献报道,在电流密度、法拉第效率、能量效率和稳定性等四个关键性能参数上比较和讨论了不同电解器构型的优缺点及其对CO_(2)RR性能的影响。面向实际应用的CO_(2)RR研究应该把工业级电流密度作为提高其它三个指标的前提。尽管目前还存在一些问题和挑战,膜电极电解器被认为是最具工业应用前景的技术方案。本文最后提出了一些可能的研究策略和机遇,展望了该领域的未来发展趋势。

Electrochemical synthesis of catalytic materials for energy catalysis

Electrocatalysis is a process dealing with electrochemical reactions in the interconversion of chemical energy and electrical energy.Precise synthesis of catalytically active nanostructures is one of the key challenges that hinder the practical application of many important energy‐related electrocatalytic reactions.Compared with conventional wet‐chemical,solid‐state and vapor deposition synthesis,electrochemical synthesis is a simple,fast,cost‐effective and precisely controllable method for the preparation of highly efficient catalytic materials.In this review,we summarize recent progress in the electrochemical synthesis of catalytic materials such as single atoms,spherical and shaped nanoparticles,nanosheets,nanowires,core‐shell nanostructures,layered nanomaterials,dendritic nanostructures,hierarchically porous nanostructures as well as composite nanostructures.Fundamental aspects of electrochemical synthesis and several main electrochemical synthesis methods are discussed.Structure‐performance correlations between electrochemically synthesized catalysts and their unique electrocatalytic properties are exemplified using selected examples.We offer the reader with a basic guide to the synthesis of highly efficient catalysts using electrochemical methods,and we propose some research challenges and future opportunities in this field.

Gas-phase electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide using electrolytic cell based on phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole membrane

Carbon dioxide transformation to fuels or chemicals provides an attractive approach for its utilization as feedstock and its emission reduction. Herein, we report a gas-phase electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 in an electrolytic cell, constructed using phosphoric acid-doped polybenz- imidazole （PBI） membrane, which allowed operation at 170 ℃ Pt/C and PtMo/C with variable ratio of Pt/Mo were studied as the cathode catalysts. The results showed that PtMo/C catalysts significantly enhanced CO formation and inhibited CH4 formation compared with Pt/C catalyst. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that most Mo species existed as MoO3 in PtMo/C catalysts and the interaction between Pt and MoOx was likely responsible for the enhanced CO formation rate although these bicomponent catalysts in general had a larger particle size than Pt/C catalyst.

Copper-indium bimetallic catalysts for the selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

Copper-indium bimetallic catalysts with a dendritic structure are fabricated by a two-step electrodeposition method using a hydrogen evolution template for the CO2 electroreduction reaction(CO2RR).The dendritic Cu-In-30 catalyst electrodeposited for 30 min shows the highest specific surface area and exposes the most active sites,resulting in improved CO2RR activity.The dendritic Cu-In-30 catalyst exhibits distinctly higher formate partial current density(42.0 m A cm^-2)and Faradaic efficiency(87.4%)than those of the In-30 catalyst without the dendritic structure(the formate partial current density and Faradaic efficiency are 4.6 m A cm^-2 and 57.0%,respectively)at-0.85 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode,ascribed to the increased specific surface area.The Cu-In-30 catalyst can maintain stable performance for 12 h during the CO2RR.In addition,the intrinsic current density of Cu-In-30 with the dendritic structure(4.8 m A cm^-2)is much higher than that of In-30 without the dendritic structure(2.1 m A cm^-2),indicating that the dendritic structure promotes the CO2RR,possibly due to additional coordination unsaturated atoms.

Heterogeneous Catalysis for CO_(2) Conversion into Chemicals and Fuels

Catalytic conversion of CO_(2)into chemicals and fuels is a viable method to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.Through thermal catalysis,electrocatalysis,and photo(electro)catalysis,CO_(2)can be converted into a wide range of valuable products,including CO,formic acid,methanol,methane,ethanol,acetic acid,propanol,light olefi ns,aromatics,and gasoline,as well as fi ne chemicals.In this mini-review,we summarize the recent progress in heterogeneous catalysis for CO_(2)conversion into chemicals and fuels and highlight some representative studies of diff erent conversion routes.The structure-performance correlations of typical catalytic materials used for the CO_(2)conversion reactions have been revealed by combining advanced in situ/operando spectroscopy and microscopy characterizations and density functional theory cal-culations.Catalytic selectivity toward a single CO_(2)reduction product/fraction should be further improved at an industrially relevant CO_(2)conversion rate with considerable stability in the future.

Ball-milling MoS_2/carbon black hybrid material for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic medium

Replacing platinum for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction （HER） in acidic medium remains great chal- lenges. Herein, we prepared few-layered MoS2 by ball milling as an efficient catalyst for HER in acidic medium, The activity of as-prepared MoS2 had a strong dependence on the ball milling time, Furthermore, Ketjen Black EC 300J was added into the ball-milled MoS2 followed by a second ball milling, and the resultant MoS2/carbon black hybrid material showed a much higher HER activity than MoS2 and carbon black alone. The enhanced activity of the MoS2/carbon black hybrid material was attributed to the increased abundance of catalytic edge sites of MoS） and excellent electrical coupling to the underlving carbon network.

Boosting CO_(2) electroreduction to formate via bismuth oxide clusters

Supported metal(oxide)clusters,with both rich surface sites and high atom utilization efficiency,have shown improved activity and selectivity for many catalytic reactions over nanoparticle and single atom catalysts.Yet,the role of cluster catalysts has been rarely reported in CO_(2)electroreduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),which is a promising route for converting CO_(2)to liquid fuels like formic acid with renewable electricity.Here we develop a bismuth oxide(BiOn)cluster catalyst for highly efficient CO_(2)RR to formate.The BiOn cluster catalyst exhibits excellent activity,selectivity,and stability towards formate production,with a formate Faradaic efficiency of over 90%at a current density up to 500 mA·cm^(−2)in an alkaline membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer,corresponding to a mass activity as high as 3,750 A·gBi−1.The electrolyzer with the BiOn cluster catalyst delivers a remarkable formate production rate of 0.56 mmol·min−1 at a high single-pass CO_(2)conversion of 44%.Density functional theory calculations indicate that Bi4O_(3)cluster is more favorable for stabilizing the HCOO^(*)intermediate than Bi(001)surface and single site BiC_(4)motif,rationalizing the improved formate production over the BiOn cluster catalyst.This work highlights the great importance of cluster catalysts in activity and selectivity control in electrocatalytic CO_(2)conversion.

Switchable C02 electroreduction via engineering active phases of Pd nanoparticles

Active-phase engineering is regularly utilized to tune the selectivity of metal nanoparticles （NPs） in heterogeneous catalysis. However, the lack of understanding of the active phase in electrocatalysis has hampered the development of efficient catalysts for CO2 electroreduction. Herein, we report the systematic engineering of active phases of Pd NPs, which are exploited to select reaction pathways for CO2 electroreduction. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations suggest that the formation of a hydrogen-adsorbed Pd surface on a mixture of the α- and β-phases of a palladium-hydride core （α＋β PdHx@PdHx） above -0.2 V （vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode） facilitates formate production via the HCOO intermediate, whereas the formation of a metallic Pd surface on the β-phase Pd hydride core （β PdHx@Pd） below -0.5 V promotes CO production via the COOH＂ intermediate. The main product, which is either formate or CO, can be selectively produced with high Faradaic efficiencies （〉90%） and mass activities in the potential window of 0.05 to -0.9 V with scalable application demonstration.

CO2 electrolysis at industrial current densities using anion exchange membrane based electrolyzers

Significant progress on electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been achieved in recent years.However,the research and development of electrolyzer device for CO2RR is scarce.Here we use anion exchange membrane to develop zerogap electrolyzers for CO2RR.The electrochemical properties of the electrolyzers with Pd/C and Cu cathodes are investigated.The Pd/C cathode shows a current density of 200 mA cm^-2with CO Faradaic efficiency of 98%and energy efficiency of 48.8%,while the Cu cathode shows a current density of 350 mA cm^-2with total CO2RR Faradaic efficiency of 81.9%and energy efficiency of 30.5%.This work provides a promising demonstration of CO2 electrolyzer using anion exchange membrane for CO2 electrolysis at industrial current densities.

Revealing structure-selectivity correlations in pulsed CO_(2)electrolysis via time-resolved operando synchrotron X-ray studies

In the context of carbon neutrality,CO_(2)electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources holds great promise in converting CO_(2)to valuable chemicals and fuels.One of the major challenges for practical application of CO_(2)electrolysis is control of selectivity with respect to specific products,especially multicarbon compounds like ethylene and ethanol[1–3].Through applying a series of oxidizing(anodic)and working(cathodic)potential pulses,facilitated C–C coupling,suppressed hydrogen evolution reaction and improved stability have been demonstrated over a group of Cu catalysts[4–7].Yet,mechanistic understandings behind the performance enhancement under dynamic pulsed reaction conditions are still in debate[8].