Molecular electrocatalysts can mediate fast, selective CO 2 reduction in a flow cell
2019; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 365; Issue: 6451 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1126/science.aax4608
ISSN1095-9203
AutoresShaoxuan Ren, Dorian Joulié, Danielle A. Salvatore, Kristian Torbensen, Min Wang, Marc Robert, Curtis P. Berlinguette,
Tópico(s)Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
ResumoPractical electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion requires a catalyst capable of mediating the efficient formation of a single product with high selectivity at high current densities. Solid-state electrocatalysts achieve the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) at current densities ≥ 150 milliamperes per square centimeter (mA/cm2), but maintaining high selectivities at high current densities and efficiencies remains a challenge. Molecular CO2RR catalysts can be designed to achieve high selectivities and low overpotentials but only at current densities irrelevant to commercial operation. We show here that cobalt phthalocyanine, a widely available molecular catalyst, can mediate CO2 to CO formation in a zero-gap membrane flow reactor with selectivities > 95% at 150 mA/cm2 The revelation that molecular catalysts can work efficiently under these operating conditions illuminates a distinct approach for optimizing CO2RR catalysts and electrolyzers.
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