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Organic molecule-modified copper catalyst enables efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2-to-methane
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Organic molecule-modified copper catalyst enables efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2-to-methane

Min Wang, Zhancheng Zhang, Tanju Yildirim, Libei Feng, Linglong Zhang and Jue Wang
Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland), Vol.929, 117068
15/01/2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2022.117068

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9 Times Cited - Web of Science

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#7 Affordable and Clean Energy
#13 Climate Action

Source: InCites

Abstract

CO2 electrochemical reduction CO2 methanation Pentacene PTCDA Tandem catalysts
Renewable electricity powered CO2 electroreduction to methane is promising for producing highly specific combustion fuels. However, the reduction process is severely limited by poor selectivity and chemical activity at high electrolysis reaction rates. Herein, we produce tandem electrocatalysts by combining organic small molecules (perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and pentacene) with copper catalysts supported on microporous polytetra fluoroethylene with enhanced *CO protonation and weakened hydrogen evolution. Experimental results show that the tandem catalysts effectively suppress the two-electron reduction process associated with hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) production while inhibiting the multielectron conversion process associated with ethylene production (C2H4). As a result, the tandem catalysts enable an efficient eight-electron transfer for electrochemical reduction of CO2 and demonstrate a ∼ 50 % (±2%) Faradaic efficiency for CO2-to-methane conversion at a partial current density of 220 mA cm−2 in 1 M KHCO3 solution. Notably, the selectively of CO2-to-CH4 is 2.7 times higher than that of a copper catalyst supported on microporous polytetra fluoroethylene which is known to produce C2H4 with ∼ 50 % Faradaic efficiency. This work paves the way for tuning *CO dimerization and hydrogen evolution reaction to maximize CO2 methanation by using abundant organic molecular materials.

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