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Single-site decorated copper enables energy- and carbon-efficient CO2 methanation in acidic conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Mengyang Fan

    (University of Toronto)

  • Rui Kai Miao

    (University of Toronto)

  • Pengfei Ou

    (University of Toronto)

  • Yi Xu

    (University of Toronto)

  • Zih-Yi Lin

    (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)

  • Tsung-Ju Lee

    (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)

  • Sung-Fu Hung

    (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)

  • Ke Xie

    (University of Toronto)

  • Jianan Erick Huang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Weiyan Ni

    (University of Toronto)

  • Jun Li

    (University of Toronto)

  • Yong Zhao

    (University of Toronto)

  • Adnan Ozden

    (University of Toronto)

  • Colin P. O’Brien

    (University of Toronto)

  • Yuanjun Chen

    (University of Toronto)

  • Yurou Celine Xiao

    (University of Toronto)

  • Shijie Liu

    (University of Toronto)

  • Joshua Wicks

    (University of Toronto)

  • Xue Wang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Jehad Abed

    (University of Toronto)

  • Erfan Shirzadi

    (University of Toronto)

  • Edward H. Sargent

    (University of Toronto)

  • David Sinton

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

Renewable CH4 produced from electrocatalytic CO2 reduction is viewed as a sustainable and versatile energy carrier, compatible with existing infrastructure. However, conventional alkaline and neutral CO2-to-CH4 systems suffer CO2 loss to carbonates, and recovering the lost CO2 requires input energy exceeding the heating value of the produced CH4. Here we pursue CH4-selective electrocatalysis in acidic conditions via a coordination method, stabilizing free Cu ions by bonding Cu with multidentate donor sites. We find that hexadentate donor sites in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid enable the chelation of Cu ions, regulating Cu cluster size and forming Cu-N/O single sites that achieve high CH4 selectivity in acidic conditions. We report a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of 71% (at 100 mA cm−2) with

Suggested Citation

  • Mengyang Fan & Rui Kai Miao & Pengfei Ou & Yi Xu & Zih-Yi Lin & Tsung-Ju Lee & Sung-Fu Hung & Ke Xie & Jianan Erick Huang & Weiyan Ni & Jun Li & Yong Zhao & Adnan Ozden & Colin P. O’Brien & Yuanjun Ch, 2023. "Single-site decorated copper enables energy- and carbon-efficient CO2 methanation in acidic conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38935-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38935-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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