Single-atom catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons and oxygenates

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide offers a sound and economically viable technology for the electrification and decarbonization of the chemical and fuel industries.In this technology,an electrocatalytic material and renewable energy-generated electricity drive the conversion of carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals and carbon-neutral fuels.Over the past few years,single-atom catalysts have been intensively studied as they could provide near-unity atom utilization and unique catalytic performance.Single-atom catalysts have become one of the state-of-the-art catalyst materials for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide.However,it remains a challenge for single-atom catalysts to facilitate the efficient conversion of carbon dioxide into products beyond carbon monoxide.In this review,we summarize and present important findings and critical insights from studies on the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction into hydrocarbons and oxygenates using single-atom catalysts.It is hoped that this review gives a thorough recapitulation and analysis of the science behind the catalysis of carbon dioxide into more reduced products through singleatom catalysts so that it can be a guide for future research and development on catalysts with industry-ready performance for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals and carbon-neutral fuels.

Exploring the impact of Nafion modifier on electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction over Cu catalyst

Nafion as a universal polymer ionomer was widely applied for nanocatalysts electrode preparation.However,the effect of Nafion on electrocatalytic performance was often overlooked,especially for CO_(2)electrolysis.Herein,the key roles of Nafion for CO_(2)RR were systematically studied on Cu nanoparticles(NPs)electrocatalyst.We found that Nafion modifier not only inhibit hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)by decreasing the accessibility of H_(2)O from electrolyte to Cu NPs,and increase the CO_(2)concentration at electrocatalyst interface for enhancing the CO_(2)mass transfer process,but also activate CO_(2)molecule by Lewis acid-base interaction between Nafion and CO_(2)to accelerate the formation of^(*)CO,which favor of C–C coupling for boosting C_(2)product generation.Owing to these features,the HER selectivity was suppressed from 40.6%to 16.8%on optimal Cu@Nafion electrode at-1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),and as high as 73.5%faradaic efficiencies(FEs)of C_(2)products were achieved at the same applied potential,which was 2.6 times higher than that on bare Cu electrode(~28.3%).In addition,Nafion also contributed to the long-term stability by hinder Cu NPs morphology reconstruction.Thus,this work provides insights into the impact of Nafion on electrocatalytic CO_(2)RR performance.

Surface engineering of ZnO electrocatalyst by N doping towards electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

The discovery of efficient,selective,and stable electrocatalysts can be a key point to produce the largescale chemical fuels via electrochemical CO_(2) reduction(ECR).In this study,an earth-abundant and nontoxic ZnO-based electrocatalyst was developed for use in gas-diffusion electrodes(GDE),and the effect of nitrogen(N)doping on the ECR activity of ZnO electrocatalysts was investigated.Initially,a ZnO nanosheet was prepared via the hydrothermal method,and nitridation was performed at different times to control the N-doping content.With an increase in the N-doping content,the morphological properties of the nanosheet changed significantly,namely,the 2D nanosheets transformed into irregularly shaped nanoparticles.Furthermore,the ECR performance of Zn O electrocatalysts with different N-doping content was assessed in 1.0 M KHCO_(3) electrolyte using a gas-diffusion electrode-based ECR cell.While the ECR activity increased after a small amount of N doping,it decreased for higher N doping content.Among them,the N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalysts showed the best CO selectivity,with a faradaic efficiency(FE_(CO))of 92.7%at-0.73 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),which was greater than that of an undoped Zn O electrocatalyst(FE_(CO)of 63.4%at-0.78 V_(RHE)).Also,the N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalyst exhibited outstanding durability for 16 h,with a partial current density of-92.1 mA cm^(-2).This improvement of N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalyst can be explained by density functional theory calculations,demonstrating that this improvement of N:ZnO-1 h electrocatalyst comes from(ⅰ)the optimized active sites lowering the free energy barrier for the rate-determining step(RDS),and(ⅱ)the modification of electronic structure enhancing the electron transfer rate by N doping.

Preferentially selective extraction of lithium from spent LiCoO_(2)cathodes by medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting

Lithium recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have attracted extensive attention due to the skyrocketing price of lithium.The medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting was proposed to preferential selective extraction of lithium from spent Li-CoO_(2)(LCO)cathodes to overcome the incomplete recovery and loss of lithium during the recycling process.The LCO layered structure was destroyed and lithium was completely converted into water-soluble Li2CO_(3)under a suitable temperature to control the reduced state of the cobalt oxide.The Co metal agglomerates generated during medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting were broken by wet grinding and ultrasonic crushing to release the entrained lithium.The results showed that 99.10%of the whole lithium could be recovered as Li2CO_(3)with a purity of 99.55%.This work provided a new perspective on the preferentially selective extraction of lithium from spent lithium batteries.

Cu-Based Materials for Enhanced C_(2+) Product Selectivity in Photo-/Electro-Catalytic CO_(2) Reduction: Challenges and Prospects

Carbon dioxide conversion into valuable products using photocatalysis and electrocatalysis is an effective approach to mitigate global environmental issues and the energy shortages. Among the materials utilized for catalytic reduction of CO_(2), Cu-based materials are highly advantageous owing to their widespread availability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, Cu-based materials demonstrate interesting abilities in the adsorption and activation of carbon dioxide, allowing the formation of C_(2+) compounds through C–C coupling process. Herein, the basic principles of photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reactions(PCO_(2)RR) and electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(ECO_(2)RR) and the pathways for the generation C_(2+) products are introduced. This review categorizes Cu-based materials into different groups including Cu metal, Cu oxides, Cu alloys, and Cu SACs, Cu heterojunctions based on their catalytic applications. The relationship between the Cu surfaces and their efficiency in both PCO_(2)RR and ECO_(2)RR is emphasized. Through a review of recent studies on PCO_(2)RR and ECO_(2)RR using Cu-based catalysts, the focus is on understanding the underlying reasons for the enhanced selectivity toward C_(2+) products. Finally, the opportunities and challenges associated with Cu-based materials in the CO_(2) catalytic reduction applications are presented, along with research directions that can guide for the design of highly active and selective Cu-based materials for CO_(2) reduction processes in the future.

A cascade of in situ conversion of bicarbonate to CO_(2) and CO_(2) electroreduction in a flow cell with a Ni-N-S catalyst

Combination of CO_(2) capture using inorganic alkali with subsequently electrochemical conversion of the resultant HCO_(3)^(-)to high-value chemicals is a promising route of low cost and high efficiency.The electrochemical reduction of HCO_(3)^(-)is challenging due to the inaccessible of negatively charged molecular groups to the electrode surface.Herein,we adopt a comprehensive strategy to tackle this challenge,i.e.,cascade of in situ chemical conversion of HCO_(3)^(-)to CO_(2) and CO_(2) electrochemical reduction in a flow cell.With a tailored Ni-N-S single atom catalyst(SACs),where sulfur(S)atoms located in the second shell of Ni center,the CO_(2)electroreduction(CO_(2)ER)to CO is boosted.The experimental results and density functional theory(DFT)calculations reveal that the introduction of S increases the p electron density of N atoms near Ni atom,thereby stabilizing^(*)H over N and boosting the first proton coupled electron transfer process of CO_(2)ER,i.e.,^(*)+e^(-)+^(*)H+^(*)CO_(2)→^(*)COOH.As a result,the obtained catalyst exhibits a high faradaic efficiency(FE_(CO)~98%)and a low overpotential of 425 mV for CO production as well as a superior turnover frequency(TOF)of 47397 h^(-1),outcompeting most of the reported Ni SACs.More importantly,an extremely high FECOof 90%is achieved at 50 mA cm^(-2)in the designed membrane electrode assembly(MEA)cascade electrolyzer fed with liquid bicarbonate.This work not only highlights the significant role of the second coordination on the first coordination shell of the central metal for CO_(2)ER,but also provides an alternative and feasible strategy to realize the electrochemical conversion of HCO_(3)^(-)to high-value chemicals.

The photo-decomposition and self-restructuring dynamic equilibrium mechanism of Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)for stable photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction

Developing suitable photocatalysts and understanding their intrinsic catalytic mechanism remain key challenges in the pursuit of highly active,good selective,and long-term stable photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction(PCO_(2)R)systems.Herein,monoclinic Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)is firstly proven to be a new class of photocatalyst,which has excellent catalytic stability and selectivity for PCO_(2)R in the absence of any sacrificial agent and cocatalysts.Based on a Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)^(13)CO_(3)photocatalyst and 13CO_(2)two-sided^(13)C isotopic tracer strategy,and combined with in situ diffused reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS)analysis and density functional theory(DFT)calculations,two main CO_(2)transformation routes,and the photo-decomposition and self-restructuring dynamic equilibrium mechanism of Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)are definitely revealed.The PCO_(2)R activity of Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)is comparable to some of state-of-the-art novel photocatalysts.Significantly,the PCO_(2)R properties can be further greatly enhanced by simply combining Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)with typical TiO_(2)to construct composites photocatalyst.The highest CO_(2)and CH_(4)production rates by 7.5 wt%Cu_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)-TiO_(2)reach 16.4μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and 116.0μmol g^(-1)h^(-1),respectively,which are even higher than that of some of PCO_(2)R systems containing sacrificial agents or precious metals modified photocatalysts.This work provides a better understanding for the PCO_(2)R mechanism at the atomic levels,and also indicates that basic carbonate photocatalysts have broad application potential in the future.

Advances in Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts for Enhanced CO_(2)Reduction

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising alternative for converting and utilizing CO_(2).Polymeric carbon nitride(PCN),typically synthesized through the one-step thermal polycondensation of nitrogen-rich precursors,has shown considerable promise due to its adjustable band structure and inherent safety.Over the past five years,significant literature in this field has identified five primary methods for modifying PCN:morphology modulation,element doping,defect induction,co-catalyst loading,and heterojunction construction.A detailed discussion on how each modification method influences light absorption,charge separation,and surface reaction efficiencies in photocatalysis is provided.Based on these findings,several future directions for the development of PCN-based materials are proposed,such as designing tailored PCN structures for specific photocatalytic reactions and using theoretical calculations to verify and correct results from current characterization methods.Despite the challenges associated with the large-scale synthesis of PCN materials with controllable structures and satisfactory performance,this work offers valuable insights for advancing photocatalytic PCN-based systems for large-scale solar fuel production.

Elucidating the structure-activity relationship of Cu-Ag bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

Developing bimetallic catalysts is an effective strategy for enhancing the activity and selectivity of electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reactions,where understanding the structure-activity relationship is essential for catalyst design.Herein,we prepared two Cu-Ag bimetallic catalysts with Ag nanoparticles attached to the top or the bottom of Cu nanowires.When tested in a flow cell,the Cu-Ag catalyst with Ag nanoparticles on the bottom achieved a faradaic efficiency of 54%for ethylene production,much higher than the catalyst with Ag nanoparticles on the top.The catalysts were further studied in the H-cell and zero-gap MEA cell.It was found that placing the two metals in the intensified reaction zone is crucial to triggering the tandem reaction of bimetallic catalysts.Our work elucidates the structure-activity relationship of bimetallic catalysts for CO_(2) reduction and demonstrates the importance of considering both catalyst structures and cell characteristics to achieve high activity and selectivity.

Porous metal oxides in the role of electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reaction

The global energy-related CO_(2) emissions have rapidly increased as the world economy heavily relied on fossil fuels.This paper explores the pressing challenge of CO_(2) emissions and highlights the role of porous metal oxide materials in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO_(2)(CO_(2)RR).The focus is on the development of robust and selective catalysts,particularly metal and metal-oxide-based materials.Porous metal oxides offer high surface area,enhancing the accessibility to active sites and improving reaction kinetics.The tunability of these materials allows for tailored catalytic behavior,targeting optimized reaction mechanisms for CO_(2)RR.The work also discusses the various synthesis strategies and identifies key structural and compositional features,addressing challenges like high overpotential,poor selectivity,and low stability.Based on these insights,we suggest avenues for future research on porous metal oxide materials for electrochemical CO_(2) reduction.

Understanding Bridging Sites and Accelerating Quantum Efficiency for Photocatalytic CO_(2) Reduction

We report a novel double-shelled nanoboxes photocatalyst architecture with tailored interfaces that accelerate quantum efficiency for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)via Mo–S bridging bonds sites in S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2).The X-ray absorption near-edge structure shows that the formation of S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2) adjusts the coordination environment via interface engineering and forms Mo–S polarized sites at the interface.The interfacial dynamics and catalytic behavior are clearly revealed by ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption,time-resolved,and in situ diffuse reflectance–Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy.A tunable electronic structure through steric interaction of Mo–S bridging bonds induces a 1.7-fold enhancement in S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3)@2H–MoTe_(2)(5)photogenerated carrier concentration relative to pristine S_(v)–In_(2)S_(3).Benefiting from lower carrier transport activation energy,an internal quantum efficiency of 94.01%at 380 nm was used for photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.This study proposes a new strategy to design photocatalyst through bridging sites to adjust the selectivity of photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.

Cobalt phthalocyanine promoted copper catalysts toward enhanced electro reduction of CO_(2)to C_(2):Synergistic catalysis or tandem catalysis?

The activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)to C_(2)products on metal catalysts can be regulated by molecular surfactants.However,the mechanism behind it remains elusive and debatable.Herein,copper nanowires(Cu NWs)were fabricated and decorated with cobalt phthalocyanine(CoPc).The electronic interaction between the Cu NWs,CoPc,CO_(2) and CO_(2)RR intermediates were explored by density functional theory(DFT)calculations.It was found that the selectivity and activity of CO_(2)RR towards C_(2)products on Cu NWs were considerably enhanced from 35.2%to 69.9%by surface decoration of CoPc.DFT calculations revealed that CO_(2)RR can proceed in the interphase between Cu substrate and CoPc,and the CO_(2)RR intermediates could synergistically bond with both Cu and Co metal centre in CuNWs-CoPc,which favours the adsorption of CO_(2),CO and CO_(2)RR intermediates,thus reducing the free energy for CO-COcoupling towards C_(2)products.The synergistic interaction was further extended to phthalocyanine(Pc)and other metal phthalocyanine derivatives(MPc),where a relatively weaker synergistic interaction of COintermediates with MPc and Cu substrate and only a slight enhancement of CO_(2)RR towards C_(2) products were observed.This study demonstrates a synergistic catalysis pathway for CO_(2)RR,a novel perspective in interpreting the role of CoPc in enhancing the activity and selectivity of CO_(2)RR on Cu NWs,in contrast to the conventional tandem catalysis mechanism.

Ligand modulation of active center to promote lead-free Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction

Metal halide perovskites(MHP)are potential candidates for the photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2)due to their long photogenerated carrier lifetime and charge diffusion length.However,the conventional long-chain ligand impedes the adsorption and activation of CO_(2)molecules in practical applications.Here,a ligand modulation technology is employed to enhance the photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction activity of lead-free Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)microcrystals(MCs).The Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)MCs passivated by Oleic acid(OLA)and Octanoic acid(OCA)are used for photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction.The results show that the surface defects and electronic properties of Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)MCs can be adjusted through ligand modulation.Compared with the OLA-Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6),the OCA-Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)catalyst demonstrated a significant improvement in the catalytic yield of CO and CH_(4).The CO and CH_(4)catalytic yields of OCA-Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)reached 171.88 and34.15μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)which were 2.03 and 12.98 times higher than those of OLA-Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6),and the total electron consumption rate of OCA-Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)was 615.2μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)which was 3.25 times higher than that of OLA-Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6).Furthermore,in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra revealed the enhancement of photocatalytic activity in Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)MCs induced by ligand modulation.This study illustrates the potential of lead-free Cs_(2)AgInCl_(6)MCs for efficient photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction and provides a ligand modulation strategy for the active promotion of MHP photocatalysts.

Designing Membrane Electrode Assembly for Electrochemical CO_(2)Reduction:a Review

Currently, the electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reaction (CO_(2) RR) can realize the resource conversion of CO_(2) , which is a promising approach to carbon resource use. Important advancements have been made in exploring the CO_(2) RR performance and mechanism because of the rational design of electrolyzer systems, such as H-cells, flow cells, and catalysts. Considering the future development direction of this technology and large-scale application needs, membrane electrode assembly (MEA) systems can improve energy use efficiency and achieve large-scale CO_(2) conversion, which is considered the most promising technology for industrial applications. This review will concentrate on the research progress and present situation of the MEA component structure. This paper begins with the composition and construction of a gas diff usion electrode. Then, the application of ion-exchange membranes in MEA is introduced. Furthermore, the eff ects of pH and the anion and cation of the anolyte on MEA performance are explored. Additionally, we present the anode reaction type in MEA. Finally, the challenges in this field are summarized, and upcoming trends are projected. This review should offer researchers a clearer picture of MEA systems and provide important, timely, and valuable insights into rational electrolyzer design to facilitate further development of CO_(2) electrochemical reduction.

Performance enhancement and active sites identification of Cu-Cd bimetallic oxide derived catalysts for electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

The development of earth-abundant electrocatalysts with high performance for electrochemical CO_(2)reduction(ECR)is of great significance.Cu-based catalysts have been widely investigated for ECR due to their unique ability to generate various carbonaceous products,but directing selectivity toward one certain product and identifying the real active sites during ECR are still full of challenge.Here,after the incorporation of CdO into CuO,the Cu_(0.5)Cd_(0.5)-O catalyst achieves a 10.3-fold enhancement for CO selectivity in comparison with CuO,and a CO faradic efficiency nearly 90%with a current density around20 mA cm^(-2)could maintain at least 60 h.Interestingly,a wide CO/H_(2)ratio(0.07-10)is reached on Cu_(x)Cd_(1-x)-O catalysts by varying the Cu/Cd ratio,demonstrating the potential of syngas production using such catalysts.The results of ex situ XRD,XPS,and in situ Raman reveal that the real active sites of Cu_(0.5)Cd_(0.5)-O catalysts for CO production during ECR reaction are the reconstructed mixed phases of CuCd alloy and CdCO_(3).In situ FTIR and theoretical calculations further implicate the presence of Cd related species promotes the CO desorption and inhibits the H_(2)evolution,thus leading to an enhanced CO generation.

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to produce formic acid coupled with oxidative conversion of biomass

Electrochemical reduction of CO_(2)(CO_(2)RR)has become a research hot spot in recent years in the context of carbon neutrality.HCOOH is one of the most promising products obtained by electrochemical reduction of CO_(2) due to its high energy value as estimated by market price per energy unit and wide application in chemical industry.Biomass is the most abundant renewable resource in the natural world.Coupling biomass oxidative conversion with CO_(2)RR driven by renewable electricity would well achieve carbon negativity.In this work,we comprehensively reviewed the current research progress on CO_(2)RR to produce HCOOH and coupled system for conversion of biomass and its derivatives to produce value-added products.Sn-and Bi-based electrocatalysts are discussed for CO_(2)RR with regards to the structure of the catalyst and reaction mechanisms.Electro-oxidation reactions of biomass derived sugars,alcohols,furan aldehydes and even polymeric components of lignocellulose were reviewed as alternatives to replace oxygen evolution reaction(OER)in the conventional electrolysis process.It was recommended that to further improve the efficiency of the coupled system,future work should be focused on the development of more efficient and stable catalysts,careful design of the electrolytic cells for improving the mass transfer and development of environment-friendly processes for recovering the formed formate and biomass oxidation products.

Molecular engineering binuclear copper catalysts for selective CO_(2) reduction to C_(2) products

Molecular copper catalysts serve as exemplary models for correlating the structure-reaction-mechanism relationship in the electrochemical CO_(2) reduction(eCO_(2)R),owing to their adaptable environments surrounding the copper metal centres.This investigation,employing density functional theory calculations,focuses on a novel family of binuclear Cu molecular catalysts.The modulation of their coordination configuration through the introduction of organic groups aims to assess their efficacy in converting CO_(2) to C_(2)products.Our findings highlight the crucial role of chemical valence state in shaping the characteristics of binuclear Cu catalysts,consequently influencing the eCO_(2)R behaviour,Notably,the Cu(Ⅱ)Cu(Ⅱ)macrocycle catalyst exhibits enhanced suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),facilitating proton trans fer and the eCO_(2)R process.Fu rthermore,we explo re the impact of diverse electro n-withdrawing and electron-donating groups coordinated to the macrocycle(R=-F,-H,and-OCH_3)on the electron distribution in the molecular catalysts.Strategic placement of-OCH_3 groups in the macrocycles leads to a favourable oxidation state of the Cu centres and subsequent C-C coupling to form C_(2) products.This research provides fundamental insights into the design and optimization of binuclear Cu molecular catalysts for the electrochemical conversion of CO_(2) to value-added C_(2) products.

Strongly Coupled Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)Nanosheets Toward CO_(2)Electroreduction to Pure HCOOH Solutions at Ampere‑Level Current

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) converts intermittent renewable electricity into value-added liquid products with an enticing prospect,but its practical application is hampered due to the lack of high-performance electrocatalysts.Herein,we elaborately design and develop strongly coupled nanosheets composed of Ag nanoparticles and Sn-SnO_(2) grains,designated as Ag/Sn-SnO_(2) nanosheets(NSs),which possess optimized electronic structure,high electrical conductivity,and more accessible sites.As a result,such a catalyst exhibits unprecedented catalytic performance toward CO_(2)-to-formate conversion with near-unity faradaic efficiency(≥90%),ultrahigh partial current density(2,000 mA cm^(−2)),and superior long-term stability(200 mA cm^(−2),200 h),surpassing the reported catalysts of CO_(2) electroreduction to formate.Additionally,in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectra combined with theoretical calculations revealed that electron-enriched Sn sites on Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)NSs not only promote the formation of*OCHO and alleviate the energy barriers of*OCHO to*HCOOH,but also impede the desorption of H*.Notably,the Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)NSs as the cathode in a membrane electrode assembly with porous solid electrolyte layer reactor can continuously produce~0.12 M pure HCOOH solution at 100 mA cm^(−2)over 200 h.This work may inspire further development of advanced electrocatalysts and innovative device systems for promoting practical application of producing liquid fuels from CO_(2).

Effects of surface chlorine atoms on charge distribution and reaction barriers for photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction

Photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction to produce high value-added carbon-based fuel has been proposed as a promising approach to mitigate global warming issues.However,the conversion efficiency and product selectivity are still low due to the sluggish dynamics of transfer processes involved in proton-assisted multi-electron reactions.Lowering the formation energy barriers of intermediate products is an effective method to enhance the selectivity and productivity of final products.In this study,we aim to regulate the surface electronic structure of Bi_(2)WO_(6)by doping surface chlorine atoms to achieve effective photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction.Surface Cl atoms can enhance the absorption ability of light,affect its energy band structure and promote charge separation.Combined with DFT calculations,it is revealed that surface Cl atoms can not only change the surface charge distribution which affects the competitive adsorption of H_(2)O and CO_(2),but also lower the formation energy barrier of intermediate products to generate more intermediate*COOH,thus facilitating CO production.Overall,this study demonstrates a promising surface halogenation strategy to enhance the photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction activity of a layered structure Bi-based catalyst.

Regulating^(*)COOH intermediate via amino alkylation engineering for exceptionally effective photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction

Photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) into fuel represents a promising approach for achieving carbon neutrality,while realizing high selectivity in this process is challenging due to uncontrollable reaction intermediate and retarded desorption of target products.Engineering the interface microenvironment of catalysts has been proposed as a strategy to exert a significant influence on reaction outcomes,yet it remains a significant challenge.In this study,amino alkylation was successfully integrated into the melem unit of polymeric carbon nitrides(PCN),which could efficiently drive the photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction.Experimental characterization and theoretical calculations revealed that the introduction of amino alkylation lowers the energy barrier for CO_(2) reduction into^(*)COOH intermediate,transforming the adsorption of^(*)COOH intermediate from the endothermic to an exothermic process.Notably,the as-prepared materials demonstrated outstanding performance in photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction,yielding CO_(2)at a rate of 152.8μmol h^(-1) with a high selectivity of 95.4%and a quantum efficiency of 6.6%.