Accelerating net-zero carbon emissions by electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

Electroreduction of CO_(2)shows great potential for global CO_(2)utilization and uptake when collaborated with renewable electricity.Recent advances have been achieved in fundamental understanding and electrocatalyst development for CO_(2)electroreduction.We think this research area has progressed to the stage where significant efforts can focus on translating the obtained knowledge to the development of largescale electrolyzers,which have the potential to accelerate the transition of the current energy system into a sustainable and zero-carbon emission energy structure.In this perspective paper,we first critically evaluate the advancement of vapor-feed devices that use CO_(2)as reactants,from the point of view of industry applications.Then,by carefully comparing their performance to the state-of-the-art water electrolyzers which are well-established technology providing realistic performance targets,we looped back and discussed the remaining challenges including electrode catalysts,reaction conditions,mass transporting,membrane,device durability,operation mode,and so on.Finally,we provide perspectives on the challenges and suggest opportunities for generating fundamental knowledge and achieving technological progress toward the development of practical CO_(2)electrolyzers for the goal of building lowcarbon or/and net carbon-free economies.

Zeolite-mediated hybrid Cu^(+)/Cu~0 interface for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

The electrocatalytic conversion of reactive nitrogen species to ammonia is a promising strategy for efficient NH_(3) synthesis.In this study,we reveal that the hybrid Cu^(+)/Cu~0 interface is catalytically active for electrochemical ammonia synthesis from nitrate reduction.To maintain the hybrid Cu^(+)/Cu~0 state at negative reaction potentials,hydrophilic zeolite is used to modify Cu/Cu_(2)O electrocatalyst,which demonstrates an impressive NH_(3) production rate of 41.65 mg h^(-1) cm^(-2)with ~100% Faradaic efficiency of ammonia synthesis at-0.6 V vs.RHE.In-situ Raman spectroscopy unveil the high activity originates from the zeolite reconstruction at the electrode–electrolyte interface,which protects the valence state of Cu~0/Cu^(+) site under negative potential and promotes electrochemical activity towards NH_(3) synthesis.

Effect of ammonium sulfate and urea on PCDD/F formation from active carbon and possible mechanism of inhibition

The effect of ammonium sulfate （（NH4）2SO4） and urea （CO（NH2）2） on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran （PCDD/F） formation from active carbon was investigated in this study. Both additives could significantly inhibit PCDD/F formation, and PCDD/F （TEQ） generation was reduced to 98.5% （98%） or 64.5% （77.2%） after 5% （NH4）2S04 or CO（NH2）2 was added into model ash, respectively. The inhibition efficiency of PCDDs was higher than the value of PCDFs, however, the reduction of PCDD/F yield was mainly from PCDFs decreasing. In addition, the solid-phase products were reduced more than the gas-phase compounds by inhibitors. By the measurement of chlorine emission in the phase of ion （Cl[Cl^-]） and molecule gas （Cl[Cl2]）, it was observed that both Cl[Cl^-] and Cl[Cl2] were reduced after inhibitors were added into ash. Cl[Cl2] was reduced to 51.0% by urea addition, which was supposed as one possible mechanism of PCDD/F inhibition.