Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2023, Vol. 48: 32-65.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(23)64429-8

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Efficient strategies for promoting the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to C2+ products over Cu-based catalysts

Huanhuan Yanga, Shiying Lib, Qun Xua,c,*()   

  1. aHenan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
    bState Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
    cCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
  • Received:2022-12-04 Accepted:2023-02-28 Online:2023-05-18 Published:2023-04-20
  • Contact: * E-mail: qunxu@zzu.edu.cn (Q. Xu).
  • About author:Qun Xu (Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University) is an associate editor for Energy & Environmental Materials (Wiley). Prof. Qun Xu obtained her PhD in Physical Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science in 1999. In 2001, she finished her post doctor work in Karlsruhe Nuclear Center in Germany and return back to China. In recent years, she focuses on the design, synthesis and performance exploration of novel nanostructures. She has made outstanding contribution on the utilization of supercritical CO2 for the fabrication of advanced materials, and their relevant applications in energy storage and (photo)electrocatalysis. She has published more than 150 papers in top journals in the recent 10 years as corresponding author (h-index = 55 and 10670 citations), including Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Mater., ACS Nano, Chem. Mater., and Adv. Funct. Mater., etc. Many papers were listed by ESI as the world’s top 1% highly cited papers and top 0.1% hot papers. She is one of the World Highly Cited Researchers in 2020, and World Top 2% Scientist (Stanford University).
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation of China(21773216);Natural Science Foundation of China(U2004208);Natural Science Foundation of China(51173170);China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022TQ0351);Henan Postdoctoral Foundation(202002011);Foundation of Henan Educational Committee(22A150024);Innovative Team Program of Zhengzhou University

Abstract:

Cu-based catalysts have been widely studied for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to yield high-value-added products with two or more carbons (C2+ products). The rational design of Cu-based catalysts is critical to improve the selectivity and energy efficiency of the CO2RR-to-C2+ process. Herein, we review recent advances in Cu-based catalysts with surface modification for four crucial factors in CO2RR-to-C2+ based on briefly analyzing the reaction mechanisms: (1) surface hydrophobization to inhibit the hydrogen evolution reaction; (2) introduction of CO2-capture materials, halide-ion doping, and Cuδ+/Cu0 synergy to promote CO2 adsorption and activation; (3) bifunctional catalysts and locally enhanced electric-thermal fields for modulating CO generation and adsorption; and (4) development of confinement structures and heterostructures, addition of oxidation states or defects, and use of single-atoms with different coordination environments to promote carbon-carbon coupling. In particular, the relationships between the surface properties of Cu-based catalysts and improved activity and C2+ selectivity in CO2RR are discussed, along with strategies for enhancing the stability of the catalyst. Furthermore, the current challenges and potential strategies for future CO2RR-to-C2+ research are discussed in this review.

Key words: Cu-based catalyst, CO2 electroreduction, Surface engineering, C2+ product, Modification strategy