Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Steering CO2 Electroreduction to C2+ Products via Enhancing Localized *CO Coverage and Local Pressure in Conical
Congcong Li1, Tingting Zhang1, Heng Liu2
1Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
Abstract:
The electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction reaction (CO2RR) involves a multistep proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process that generates a variety of intermediates, making it challenging to transform them into target products with high activity and selectivity. Here, a catalyst featuring a nanosheet-stacked sphere structure with numerous open and deep conical cavities (OD-CCs) is reported. Under the guidance of the finite-element method (FEM) simulations and theoretical analysis, it is shown that exerting control over the confinement space results in diffusion limitation of the carbon intermediates, thereby increasing local pressure and subsequently enhancing localized *CO coverage for dimerization. The nanocavities exhibit a structure-driven shift in selectivity of multicarbon (C2+) product from 41.8% to 81.7% during the CO2RR process.
Related Concept Videos
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
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.
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Controlled-Current Coulometry: Overview
Controlled-Potential Coulometry: Electrolytic Methods
The chosen potential...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Turbulent Flow: Problem Solving
Temperature is a key factor in CO2 solubility. In this case, the CO2 gas and the liquid are cooled to 20°C. Lower temperatures...

