Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Gradient Pore-Hydrophobicity Cooperation for Synergistic H2O/CO2 Management toward Efficient Acidic CO2
Jiping Sun1, Hong Zhang2, Zhixing Wang1,3
1School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha410083, China.
None:
Developing acidic electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) systems can alleviate carbonate clogging in gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), offering an efficient way to convert CO2 at industrial-level current densities (J > 200 mA cm-2). However, it comes at the cost of aggravating competitive hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). Breaking this intrinsic selectivity-stability trade-off requires synergistic H2O/CO2 management. As a central component of GDEs, the gas diffusion layer (GDL) critically governs gas (CO2)-liquid (H2O) transport balance. This work proposes a gradient pore-hydrophobicity cooperation strategy for synergistic H2O/CO2 management to achieve efficient acidic CO2RR. Paired with commercial Ag catalysts, the Ag-GDEs exhibit an impressive CO Faraday efficiency of 97.26% at 400 mA cm-2 within a pH = 2.0 environment. Furthermore, in situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry confirms the distinct mass transfer kinetics induced by GDL architectures. Lattice Boltzmann modeling simulations corroborate the effects of the gradient pore-hydrophobicity synergy on CO2 and H2O distribution in GDLs. This work presents an effective approach to the rational design of GDLs and the collaborative liquid-gas management for efficient CO2RR.
Related Concept Videos
Reactivity of Enolate Ions
Amines to Alkenes: Cope Elimination
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...
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic acid...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
