The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) into carbon-based fuels provides a promising strategy to mitigate CO 2 emission and promotes the utilization of renewable energy.
The C n (n≥2) liquid products are desirable because of their high energy densities and ease of storage. However, manipulation of C-C coupling pathway remains a challenge due to the limited mechanistic understanding.
Recently, a research group led by Profs. ZHANG Tao and HUANG Yanqiang from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a Sn-based tandem electrocatalyst (SnS 2 @Sn 1 -O3G), which could reproducibly yield ethanol with a Faradaic efficiency of up to 82.5% at -0.9 V RHE and a geometric current density of 17.8 mA/cm 2 .
The study was published in Nature Energy on Oct. 30.
The researchers fabricated the SnS 2 @Sn 1 -O3G through solvothermal reaction of SnBr 2 and thiourea on a three-dimensional carbon foam. The electrocatalyst comprised SnS 2 nanosheets and atomically dispersed Sn atoms (Sn 1 -O3G).
Mechanistic study showed that this Sn 1 -O3G could respectively adsorb *CHO and *CO(OH) intermediates, therefore promoting C-C bond formation through an unprecedented formyl-bicarbonate coupling pathway.
Moreover, by using isotopically labelled reactants, the researchers traced the pathway of C atoms in the final C 2 product formed over the catalyst of Sn 1 -O3G. This analysis suggested that the methyl C in the product comes from formic acid whereas the methylene C was from CO 2 .
"Our study provides an alternative platform for C–C bond formation for ethanol synthesis and offers a strategy for manipulating CO 2 reduction pathways towards desired products," said Prof. HUANG.
Nature Energy
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A tin-based tandem electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction to ethanol with 80% selectivity
30-Oct-2023