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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
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Electrocatalysts Derived from Copper Complexes Transform CO into C2+ Products Effectively in a Flow Cell.

Shaoxuan Ren1, Zishuai Zhang1, Eric W Lees2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z1, Canada.

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|March 28, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Electrolyzing carbon monoxide (CO) with copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) catalysts produces valuable carbon-based chemicals (C2+ products) more efficiently than CO2. This method avoids byproduct formation in alkaline media, enabling high selectivity and production rates.

Keywords:
CO electrolysisCO electrolyzerelectrode materialsmolecular catalyst

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Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Electrochemical conversion of CO2 into fuels and chemicals is hindered by alkaline electrolytes forming unreactive byproducts.
  • Carbon monoxide (CO) electrolysis offers an alternative pathway, avoiding these issues and facilitating the formation of C2+ products.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as an electrocatalyst for CO electrolysis in a flow cell.
  • To compare the performance of CuPc with state-of-the-art catalysts for C2+ product formation.
  • To explore the catalytic mechanism and the role of the ligand environment in CuPc-mediated CO electroreduction.

Main Methods:

  • Electrolysis of CO in a flow cell using a gas diffusion electrode coated with CuPc.
  • Performance evaluation based on current densities, selectivity for acetate, and faradaic efficiency for C2+ products.
  • Operando Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze catalyst structure and composition during catalysis.

Main Results:

  • CuPc catalyst achieved 25% higher acetate selectivity at 200 mA/cm2 compared to oxide-derived Cu.
  • High rates of C2+ product formation (current densities ≥200 mA/cm2) and high faradaic efficiencies (>70% at 200 mA/cm2) were observed.
  • XPS suggested conversion to metallic copper during catalysis, while Raman spectroscopy showed no structural changes to the copper complex; modified CuPc with ethoxy substituents impacted catalysis.

Conclusions:

  • Copper phthalocyanine is an effective electrocatalyst for converting CO to C2+ products in flow cells.
  • This approach overcomes limitations of CO2 electrolysis in alkaline media, enabling high-performance carbon-neutral chemical synthesis.
  • The findings highlight metal complexes as promising catalysts for industrial-scale production of sustainable chemicals and fuels.