Boosting the Productivity of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction to Multi‐Carbon Products by Enhancing CO2 Diffusion through a Porous Organic Cage. Issue 23 (7th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Chunjun; Yan, Xupeng; Wu, Yahui; Liu, Shoujie; Zhang, Xiudong; Sun, Xiaofu; Zhu, Qinggong; Wu, Haihong; Han, Buxing
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 61:Issue 23(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-04-07
• Subjects: Carbon Dioxide -- Electrocatalysis -- Green Chemistry -- Multi-Carbon Products -- Porous Organic Cages; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202202607
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Electroreduction of CO2 into valuable fuels and feedstocks offers a promising way for CO2 utilization. However, the commercialization is limited by the low productivity. Here, we report a strategy to enhance the productivity of CO2 electroreduction by improving diffusion of CO2 to the surface of catalysts using porous organic cages (POCs) as an additive. It was noted that the Faradaic efficiency (FE) of C2+ products could reach 76.1 % with a current density of 1.7 A cm −2 when Cu‐nanorod(nr)/CC3 (one of the POCs) was used, which were much higher than that using Cu‐nr. Detailed studies demonstrated that the hydrophobic pores of CC3 can adsorb a large amount of CO2 for the reaction, and the diffusion of CO2 in the CC3 to the nanocatalyst surface is easier than that in the liquid electrolyte. Thus, more CO2 molecules make contact with the nanocatalysts in the presence of CC3, enhancing CO2 reduction and inhibiting generation of H2 . Abstract : Porous organic cages (POCs) were used as an additive to enhance the CO2 diffusion in flow cell catalyst layers, thus boosting the productivity of the CO2 electroreduction reaction. The Faradaic efficiency (FE) of C2+ products reached 76.1 % when Cu‐nanorod/CC3 (one of the POCs) was used. The diffusion of CO2 through CC3 to the nanocatalyst surface is easier than in liquid electrolyte, therefore more CO2 molecules make contact with the nanocatalyst.