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Related Concept Videos

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect01:19

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties01:22

EDTA: Chemistry and Properties

Polydentate ligands are most widely used in complexometric titrations because they form more stable complexes with the metal ions than mono- or bidentate ligands due to the chelate effect. Examples of polydentate ligands are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), crown ethers, and cryptands. The most important feature of optimal polydentate ligands is the ability to form 1:1 complexes in a single-step process. Amino carboxylic acid derivatives are frequently used as complexing agents. EDTA is...
Extraction: Advanced Methods00:56

Extraction: Advanced Methods

Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is formed in...
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation01:12

Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

Some cycloaddition reactions are activated by heat, while others are initiated by light. For example, a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between two ethylene molecules occurs only in the presence of light. It is photochemically allowed but thermally forbidden.
Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
EDTA: Auxiliary Complexing Reagents01:26

EDTA: Auxiliary Complexing Reagents

EDTA titrations are usually carried out in highly basic conditions, where the fully deprotonated form of EDTA, Y4−, actively complexes with the free metal ions in the solution. Several metal ions precipitate as hydrous oxide (hydroxides, oxides, or oxyhydroxides) under these conditions, lowering the concentration of free metal ions in the solution. For this reason, auxiliary complexing agents or ligands such as ammonia, tartrate, citrate, or triethanolamine are used in EDTA titrations to...

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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
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Published on: April 10, 2018

Multifunctional Molecular Cages Boost Acidic CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene.

Qin Chen1, Yao Tan1, Hao Yu1

  • 1Hunan Joint International Research Center for Carbon Dioxide Resource Utilization, State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, P. R. China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary

A molecular cage stabilizes copper catalysts for acidic CO2 reduction, boosting ethylene production. This strategy overcomes key limitations, enabling efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to valuable multicarbon products.

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Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
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Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts
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Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

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Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts
10:15

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

Published on: November 7, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Materials Science
  • Carbon Capture and Utilization

Background:

  • Acidic electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR) to multicarbon (C2+) products is promising for carbon utilization.
  • Key limitations include Cu+ reduction to Cu0 and fast *CO intermediate diffusion, hindering C-C coupling and C2H4 selectivity.
  • Acidic media enhance CO2 availability and suppress carbonate formation, making it ideal for CO2RR.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a strategy to stabilize Cu+ and restrict *CO diffusion for efficient C2H4 production in acidic CO2RR.
  • To investigate the role of a molecular cage in enhancing C-C coupling kinetics and selectivity.
  • To overcome intrinsic bottlenecks in acidic CO2RR for improved C2+ product formation.

Main Methods:

  • Constructed a molecular cage on Cu2O surface by grafting cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).
  • Employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand reaction mechanisms and energy barriers.
  • Utilized *in situ* attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) and X-ray adsorption near-edge structure (XANES) to probe surface species and catalyst stability.

Main Results:

  • The CTAB molecular cage stabilized Cu+ and restricted *CO diffusion, promoting C-C coupling.
  • DFT calculations showed lowered C-C coupling energy barrier and raised hydrogen evolution barrier.
  • Achieved 60% C2H4 Faradaic efficiency across a wide current density range (300-1100 mA cm-2) in strong acid.

Conclusions:

  • The molecular cage strategy effectively overcomes limitations in acidic CO2RR, enhancing C2H4 selectivity.
  • Demonstrated high CO2 single-pass utilization (64.7%), energy efficiency (37.9%), and long-term stability (>195 h).
  • Presents a generalizable approach for designing catalysts for efficient acidic CO2 reduction to C2+ products.