Chemical Reviews,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
122(12), P. 11085 - 11130
Published: April 27, 2022
Since
the
seminal
works
on
application
of
density
functional
theory
and
computational
hydrogen
electrode
to
electrochemical
CO2
reduction
(eCO2R)
evolution
(HER),
modeling
both
reactions
has
quickly
evolved
for
last
two
decades.
Formulation
thermodynamic
kinetic
linear
scaling
relationships
key
intermediates
crystalline
materials
have
led
definition
activity
volcano
plots,
overpotential
diagrams,
full
exploitation
these
theoretical
outcomes
at
laboratory
scale.
However,
recent
studies
hint
role
morphological
changes
short-lived
in
ruling
catalytic
performance
under
operating
conditions,
further
raising
bar
electrocatalytic
systems.
Here,
we
highlight
some
novel
methodological
approaches
employed
address
eCO2R
HER
reactions.
Moving
from
atomic
scale
bulk
electrolyte,
first
show
how
ab
initio
machine
learning
methodologies
can
partially
reproduce
surface
reconstruction
operation,
thus
identifying
active
sites
reaction
mechanisms
if
coupled
with
microkinetic
modeling.
Later,
introduce
potential
interpret
data
Operando
spectroelectrochemical
techniques,
such
as
Raman
spectroscopy
extended
X-ray
absorption
fine
structure
characterization.
Next,
review
electrolyte
mass
transport
effects.
Finally,
suggest
challenges
near
future
well
our
perspective
directions
follow.
Energy & Environmental Science,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
14(3), P. 1176 - 1193
Published: Jan. 1, 2021
This
review
underlines
the
strategies
to
suppress
HER
for
selective
NRR
in
view
of
proton-/electron-transfer
kinetics,
thermodynamics,
and
electrocatalyst
design
on
basis
deep
understanding
mechanisms.
Chemical Reviews,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
122(12), P. 11131 - 11168
Published: June 10, 2022
Interpretation
of
impedance
spectroscopy
data
requires
both
a
description
the
chemistry
and
physics
that
govern
system
an
assessment
error
structure
measurement.
The
approach
presented
here
includes
use
graphical
methods
to
guide
model
development,
measurement
analysis
assess
presence
stochastic
bias
errors,
systematic
development
interpretation
models
in
terms
proposed
reaction
mechanism
physical
description.
Application
corrosion,
batteries,
biological
systems
is
discussed,
emerging
trends
implementation
are
presented.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: Aug. 16, 2021
Abstract
The
electrochemical
reduction
of
CO
2
to
is
a
promising
technology
for
replacing
production
processes
employing
fossil
fuels.
Still,
low
energy
efficiencies
hinder
the
at
commercial
scale.
electrolysis
has
mainly
been
performed
in
neutral
or
alkaline
media,
but
recent
fundamental
work
shows
that
high
selectivities
can
also
be
achieved
acidic
media.
Therefore,
we
investigate
feasibility
pH
2–4
indrustrially
relevant
conditions,
using
10
cm
gold
gas
diffusion
electrodes.
Operating
current
densities
up
200
mA
−2
,
obtain
faradaic
between
80–90%
sulfate
electrolyte,
with
30%
improvement
overall
process
efficiency,
comparison
Additionally,
find
weakly
hydrated
cations
are
crucial
accomplishing
reaction
rates
and
enabling
This
study
represents
step
towards
application
electrolyzers
electroreduction.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
144(32), P. 14936 - 14944
Published: Aug. 4, 2022
An
ampere-level
current
density
of
CO2
electrolysis
is
critical
to
realize
the
industrial
production
multicarbon
(C2+)
fuels.
However,
under
such
a
large
density,
poor
CO
intermediate
(*CO)
coverage
on
catalyst
surface
induces
competitive
hydrogen
evolution
reaction,
which
hinders
reduction
reaction
(CO2RR).
Herein,
we
report
reliable
CO2-to-C2+
by
heteroatom
engineering
Cu
catalysts.
The
Cu-based
compounds
with
(N,
P,
S,
O)
are
electrochemically
reduced
heteroatom-derived
significant
structural
reconstruction
CO2RR
conditions.
It
found
that
N-engineered
(N-Cu)
exhibits
best
productivity
remarkable
Faradaic
efficiency
73.7%
-1100
mA
cm-2
and
an
energy
37.2%
-900
cm-2.
Particularly,
it
achieves
C2+
partial
-909
at
-1.15
V
versus
reversible
electrode,
outperforms
most
reported
In
situ
spectroscopy
indicates
adjusts
*CO
adsorption
alters
local
H
proton
consumption
in
solution.
Density
functional
theory
studies
confirm
high
strength
N-Cu
results
from
depressed
HER
promoted
both
bridge
atop
sites
Cu,
greatly
reduces
barrier
for
C-C
coupling.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
144(4), P. 1589 - 1602
Published: Dec. 28, 2021
CO2
electroreduction
(CO2RR)
is
a
sustainable
alternative
for
producing
fuels
and
chemicals.
Metal
cations
in
the
electrolyte
have
strong
impact
on
reaction,
but
mainly
alkali
species
been
studied
detail.
In
this
work,
we
elucidate
how
multivalent
(Li+,
Cs+,
Be2+,
Mg2+,
Ca2+,
Ba2+,
Al3+,
Nd3+,
Ce3+)
affect
CO2RR
competing
hydrogen
evolution
by
studying
these
reactions
polycrystalline
gold
at
pH
=
3.
We
observe
that
no
effect
proton
reduction
low
overpotentials,
alkaline
surface
acidic
undergo
hydrolysis,
generating
second
regime.
The
activity
onset
water
reaction
correlate
with
cation
acidity,
weakly
hydrated
trivalent
leading
to
highest
activity.
Acidic
only
favor
overpotentials
media.
At
high
CO
increases
order
Ca2+
<
Li+
Ba2+
Cs+.
To
there
must
be
an
interplay
between
stabilization
of
*CO2-
intermediate,
accumulation
outer
Helmholtz
plane
(OHP),
reduction.
Ab
initio
molecular
dynamics
simulations
explicit
electric
field
show
nonacidic
lower
repulsion
interface,
accumulating
more
OHP,
thus
triggering
local
promoting
effects.
Water
dissociation
kinetics
increasingly
promoted
strongly
(Nd3+,
Al3+),
agreement
experimental
evidence.
Nd3+
coordinate
adsorbed
steadily;
they
enable
barrierless
protonation
COOH
further
products.
Accounts of Chemical Research,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
55(14), P. 1900 - 1911
Published: June 30, 2022
ConspectusThe
electrochemical
reduction
of
CO2
(CO2RR)
constitutes
an
alternative
to
fossil
fuel-based
technologies
for
the
production
fuels
and
commodity
chemicals.
Yet
application
CO2RR
electrolyzers
is
hampered
by
low
energy
Faradaic
efficiencies.
Concomitant
reactions,
like
hydrogen
evolution
(HER),
lower
selectivity,
while
conversion
into
(bi)carbonate
through
solution
acid-base
reactions
induces
additional
concentration
overpotential.
During
in
aqueous
media,
local
pH
becomes
more
alkaline
than
bulk
causing
consumption
homogeneous
reactions.
The
latter
effect,
combination
with
solubility
electrolytes
(33
mM),
leads
a
significant
depletion
at
electrode
surface.The
nature
electrolyte,
terms
cation
identity,
has
recently
emerged
as
important
factor
tune
both
efficiency.
In
this
Account,
we
summarize
recent
advances
understanding
electrolyte
effects
on
CO
solutions,
which
first,
crucial,
step
further
reduced
products.
To
compare
literature
findings
meaningful
way,
focus
results
reported
under
well-defined
mass
transport
conditions
using
online
analytical
techniques.
discussion
covers
molecular-level
proton
donor,
suppression
gradient
vs
enhancement
HER
given
rate
cation,
crucial
enabling
HER.
These
mechanistic
insights
are
then
translated
possible
implications
industrially
relevant
cell
geometries
current
densities.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
143(1), P. 279 - 285
Published: Dec. 24, 2020
In
this
article
we
investigate
the
electrochemical
reduction
of
CO2
at
gold
electrodes
under
mildly
acidic
conditions.
Differential
mass
spectroscopy
(DEMS)
is
used
to
quantify
amounts
formed
hydrogen
and
carbon
monoxide
as
well
consumed
amount
CO2.
We
how
Faradaic
efficiency
CO
formation
affected
by
partial
pressure
(0.1–0.5
bar)
proton
concentration
(1–0.25
mM).
Increasing
former
enhances
rate
suppresses
evolution
from
reduction,
leading
efficiencies
close
100%.
Hydrogen
suppressed
all
protons
electrode
surfaces
are
support
water
(CO2
+
2H+
2e–
→
H2O).
Under
conditions
slow
transport,
leaves
no
evolution.
On
basis
our
results,
derive
a
general
design
principle
for
acid
electrolyzers
suppress
reduction:
CO/OH–
must
be
high
enough
match/compensate
transfer
surface.