Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 Coupled with Organic Conversion to Selectively Synthesize High-Value Chemicals
Wanfu Zhong1, Wenhao Huang1, Sunhong Ruan1
1State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials National Engineering Laboratory for Green Chemical Productions of Alcohols Ethers and Esters College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The electrochemical process of coupling electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and organic conversion reaction can effectively reduce the reaction overpotential and obtain value-added chemicals. Moreover, because of the diversity of substrates and the designability of coupling forms, more and more attention has been paid to this field. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of coupling electrolysis in recent years, (1) co-electrolysis of CO2 and organics at the cathode to obtain specific products with high selectivity, (2) replacing traditional anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with other valuable oxidation reactions to improve energy utilization efficiency and economic benefits of CO2 conversion, (3) in an electrolytic cell without membrane, the cathode and anode jointly transform CO2 and organics to redox products. We hope that the examples and insights on coupling electrolysis introduced in this review can inspire researchers to further explore and innovate in this direction.
Related Concept Videos
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkanes: Wolff–Kishner Reduction
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...

