Electrochemical reduction of CO2 towards multi-carbon products via a two-step process. Issue 4 (23rd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Xianbiao; Zhang, Jiahao; Kang, Yijin
• Is Part Of: Reaction chemistry & engineering. Volume 6:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 612
• Page End: 628
• Publication Date: 2021-02-23
• Subjects: Reaction mechanisms (Chemistry) -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering; Reaction mechanisms (Chemistry); Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/d1re00001b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2058-9883

Abstract

Abstract : The two-step electroreduction of CO2 to multi-carbon products with a high selectivity and production rate of industrial relevance provides an alternative route for converting CO2 to fuels and chemicals. Abstract : The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) towards clean fuels and chemicals powered by renewable energy is a promising strategy to realize the closing of the loop of carbon footprint. However, the direct reduction of CO2 to multi-carbon (C2+ ) products suffers from low activity in non-alkaline electrolyte or electrolyte degradation problem caused by carbonate formation in alkaline electrolyte. The two-step process for CO2 electrocution can circumvent such problems by converting CO2 to CO (the first step) in the non-alkaline electrolyte and promote the rate of carbon–carbon coupling for CO-to-C2+ conversion (the second step) in alkaline electrolytes. We summarize the recent progress of CO-selective catalysts, C2+ -selective catalysts, tandem catalysts, and tandem reaction systems, which aim to achieve the efficient production of C2+ products with high selectivity. The two-step route of CO2 reduction pushes the chemical production from environmentally abundant molecules closer to the practical application, offering a promising replacement in the petrochemical industry for chemical production under hydrogen economy in the future.