Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Selective and Energy Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2-to-Ethanol Conversion through Anion Modulation
Yumin Da1, Jie Chen1,2,3, Lei Fan1
1Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore.
Abstract:
Ethanol, with its high market value and stable global demand, stands out as an attractive product of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. However, achieving high ethanol selectivity and energy efficiency at industrial current densities remains challenging. In this study, we employed a blended anion modulation strategy to enhance the selectivity and energy efficiency of CO2-to-ethanol conversion. The Cu2(OH)3F pre-catalyst achieved Faradaic efficiencies of 50% and 93% for ethanol and C2+, respectively, at 700 mA cm-2 in a blended electrolyte consisting of 2 M KOH and 1 M KCl. Comprehensive electrochemical tests, combined with in situ characterizations and theoretical analysis, revealed that chloride and hydroxide increased *CO coverage for efficient C─C coupling. Moreover, hydroxide stabilizes the *CHCOH intermediate through hydrogen bonding with the adsorbed hydroxide on the catalyst surface, while Cl synergistically enhances its reactivity by promoting water dissociation toward the ethanol pathway.
Related Concept Videos
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Controlled-Potential Coulometry: Electrolytic Methods
The chosen potential...
Controlled-Current Coulometry: Overview
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.

