Selective electroreduction of CO2 to acetone by single copper atoms anchored on N-doped porous carbon

Kun Zhao, Xiaowa Nie, Haozhi Wang, Shuo Chen, Xie Quan (), Hongtao Yu, Wonyong Choi, Guanghui Zhang, Bupmo Kim and Jingguang G. Chen ()
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Kun Zhao: Dalian University of Technology
Xiaowa Nie: Dalian University of Technology
Haozhi Wang: Dalian University of Technology
Shuo Chen: Dalian University of Technology
Xie Quan: Dalian University of Technology
Hongtao Yu: Dalian University of Technology
Wonyong Choi: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Guanghui Zhang: Dalian University of Technology
Bupmo Kim: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Jingguang G. Chen: Columbia University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Efficient electroreduction of CO2 to multi-carbon products is a challenging reaction because of the high energy barriers for CO2 activation and C–C coupling, which can be tuned by designing the metal centers and coordination environments of catalysts. Here, we design single atom copper encapsulated on N-doped porous carbon (Cu-SA/NPC) catalysts for reducing CO2 to multi-carbon products. Acetone is identified as the major product with a Faradaic efficiency of 36.7% and a production rate of 336.1 μg h−1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the coordination of Cu with four pyrrole-N atoms is the main active site and reduces the reaction free energies required for CO2 activation and C–C coupling. The energetically favorable pathways for CH3COCH3 production from CO2 reduction are proposed and the origin of selective acetone formation on Cu-SA/NPC is clarified. This work provides insight into the rational design of efficient electrocatalysts for reducing CO2 to multi-carbon products.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16381-8

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