Gold-in-copper at low *CO coverage enables efficient electromethanation of CO2.

Nature Communications
Xue WangEdward H Sargent

Abstract

The renewable-electricity-powered CO2 electroreduction reaction provides a promising means to store intermittent renewable energy in the form of valuable chemicals and dispatchable fuels. Renewable methane produced using CO2 electroreduction attracts interest due to the established global distribution network; however, present-day efficiencies and activities remain below those required for practical application. Here we exploit the fact that the suppression of *CO dimerization and hydrogen evolution promotes methane selectivity: we reason that the introduction of Au in Cu favors *CO protonation vs. C-C coupling under low *CO coverage and weakens the *H adsorption energy of the surface, leading to a reduction in hydrogen evolution. We construct experimentally a suite of Au-Cu catalysts and control *CO availability by regulating CO2 concentration and reaction rate. This strategy leads to a 1.6× improvement in the methane:H2 selectivity ratio compared to the best prior reports operating above 100 mA cm-2. We as a result achieve a CO2-to-methane Faradaic efficiency (FE) of (56 ± 2)% at a production rate of (112 ± 4) mA cm-2.

References

Dec 15, 1994·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·P E Blöchl
Oct 15, 1996·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·G Kresse, J Furthmüller
Jan 1, 1993·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·G Kresse, J Hafner
Oct 28, 1996·Physical Review Letters·J P PerdewM Ernzerhof
Jun 22, 2005·Journal of Synchrotron Radiation·B Ravel, M Newville
Dec 25, 2010·Materials Science & Engineering. R, Reports : a Review Journal·Claire M Cobley, Younan Xia
Sep 17, 2011·Nature·Robert W HowarthTerry Engelder
Apr 26, 2012·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Zhichuan XuKimberly Hamad-Schifferli
Apr 22, 2014·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Rulle ReskePeter Strasser
Aug 20, 2014·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Karthish ManthiramA Paul Alivisatos
Aug 13, 2015·The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·Joseph H MontoyaJens K Nørskov
Jan 2, 2016·The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·Ruud KortleverMarc T M Koper
Dec 14, 2016·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Sichao MaPaul J A Kenis
Dec 22, 2016·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Hai XiaoWilliam A Goddard
Feb 9, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Tao ChengWilliam A Goddard
May 30, 2017·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Dohyung KimPeidong Yang
Aug 9, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Qi XiaoVirgil Percec
Sep 20, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dohyung KimPeidong Yang
Jul 18, 2018·Nature Chemistry·Yansong ZhouEdward H Sargent
May 10, 2019·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Yuguang C LiEdward H Sargent
Jul 28, 2019·Science·Shaoxuan RenCurtis P Berlinguette
Nov 30, 2019·Nature Communications·Xue WangEdward H Sargent
Jan 29, 2020·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Xue WangEdward H Sargent
Feb 8, 2020·Science·F Pelayo García de ArquerEdward H Sargent

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

IFEFFIT
Vienna ab initio simulation package
Athena
Artemis

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.