Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
10:57
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
18.2K
Multiscale effects in tandem CO2 electrolysis to C2+ products
Lewis S Cousins1, Charles E Creissen1
1School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. c.e.creissen@keele.ac.uk.
Nanoscale
|December 15, 2023
Summary
Tandem catalysis enhances carbon dioxide (CO2) electrolysis for sustainable chemical production. This approach improves selectivity for valuable multicarbon products by optimizing CO generation, crucial for C-C coupling reactions.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) electrolysis offers a sustainable route for decarbonization, producing valuable chemicals.
- Achieving high selectivity for multicarbon (C2+) products like ethylene and ethanol is challenging due to competing C1 formation.
- Single-component catalysts often struggle with selectivity in CO2 conversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in tandem catalysis for CO2 electrolysis.
- To highlight the multiscale effects influencing selectivity in CO2 conversion.
- To provide an outlook for developing effective tandem CO2 electrolysis systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on atomic-scale manipulation and device-scale engineering for tandem CO2 electrolysis.
- Analysis of examples demonstrating contributions to selectivity alterations.
- Synthesis of understanding regarding complex, interlinked factors affecting selectivity.
Main Results:
- Tandem catalysis, by incorporating a CO-generating component, enhances C2+ selectivity in CO2 electrolysis.
- A wide range of approaches, from atomic to device scales, are being explored to promote tandem catalysis.
- Understanding multiscale effects is critical for improving selectivity in CO2 conversion.
Conclusions:
- Tandem catalysis is a promising strategy to overcome selectivity limitations in CO2 electrolysis.
- Further research into multiscale effects is necessary for designing efficient tandem systems.
- This review provides insights into current strategies and future directions for tandem CO2 electrolysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Controlled-Current Coulometry: Overview
208
Controlled current coulometry, also known as amperostatic coulometry, is a technique used in electrochemical analysis to measure the quantity of a substance through the controlled passage of current. It involves the application of a constant current to an electrochemical cell containing the analyte of interest. As the current flows through the cell, the analyte undergoes a redox reaction at the electrode surface, resulting in a charge transfer. By monitoring the time required for a certain...
208
01:26Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
2.3K
Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
2.3K
01:10Voltammetric Techniques: Cyclic Voltammetry
480
Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is an electrochemical technique used to investigate the redox properties of a chemical species. It involves measuring the current response of an electrochemical cell as a function of the applied potential. The setup for cyclic voltammetry typically consists of a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode—all immersed in an electrolyte solution. The working electrode is where the redox reaction of interest occurs, while the reference electrode...
480
03:00Electrolysis
26.4K
In a galvanic cell, the electrical work is done by a redox system on its surroundings as electrons produced by the spontaneous redox reactions are transferred through an external circuit. Alternatively, an external circuit does work on a redox system by imposing a voltage sufficient to drive an otherwise nonspontaneous reaction in a process known as electrolysis. For instance, recharging a battery involves the use of an external power source to drive the spontaneous (discharge) cell reaction in...
26.4K
01:17Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
2.0K
The stereochemistry of electrocyclic reactions is strongly influenced by the orbital symmetry of the polyene HOMO. Under thermal conditions, the reaction proceeds via the ground-state HOMO.
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
2.0K
01:12Double Resonance Techniques: Overview
214
Double resonance techniques in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy involve the simultaneous application of two different frequencies or radiofrequency pulses to manipulate and observe two distinct nuclear spins. One important application of double resonance is spin decoupling, which selectively suppresses coupling with one type of nucleus while observing the NMR signal from another nucleus, simplifying the spectrum and enhancing resolution.
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
214