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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
10:57
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
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Cu Single-Atom Catalysts for High-Selectivity Electrocatalytic Acetylene Semihydrogenation
Xiaoli Jiang1, Lei Tang1, Lei Dong1
1Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|June 28, 2023
Summary
Isolated copper sites in electrocatalysis prevent overhydrogenation and unwanted coupling, boosting ethylene selectivity in acetylene semihydrogenation. This strategy enhances catalyst performance by inhibiting side reactions.
Area of Science:
- Heterogeneous catalysis
- Electrocatalysis
- Materials science
Background:
- Site isolation is key in thermal acetylene semihydrogenation to prevent overhydrogenation and C-C coupling.
- Limited research exists on applying site isolation to electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the efficacy of site isolation in electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation.
- Develop highly selective catalysts for ethylene production.
Main Methods:
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations to calculate energy barriers.
- Synthesis of Copper single-atom catalysts on nitrogen-doped carbon.
- Electrocatalytic performance testing at high acetylene concentrations.
Main Results:
- DFT simulations showed isolated Cu sites increase energy barriers for overhydrogenation and C-C coupling.
- Developed Cu single-atom catalysts achieved >80% Faradaic efficiency for ethylene.
- Negligible C4 formation (<1% FE) and no ethane were observed, indicating high selectivity.
Conclusions:
- Isolated Cu sites effectively inhibit side reactions in electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation.
- Weak ethylene intermediate adsorption and high C-C coupling barriers at isolated sites are crucial.
- This work provides insights into designing selective electrocatalysts for acetylene conversion.
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