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Site-selective protonation enables efficient carbon monoxide electroreduction to acetate

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyue Wang

    (University of Toronto
    Zhejiang University)

  • Yuanjun Chen

    (University of Toronto)

  • Feng Li

    (University of Toronto)

  • Rui Kai Miao

    (University of Toronto)

  • Jianan Erick Huang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Zilin Zhao

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Xiao-Yan Li

    (University of Toronto)

  • Roham Dorakhan

    (University of Toronto)

  • Senlin Chu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Jinhong Wu

    (University of Toronto)

  • Sixing Zheng

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Weiyan Ni

    (University of Toronto)

  • Dongha Kim

    (University of Toronto)

  • Sungjin Park

    (University of Toronto)

  • Yongxiang Liang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Adnan Ozden

    (University of Toronto)

  • Pengfei Ou

    (University of Toronto)

  • Yang Hou

    (Zhejiang University)

  • David Sinton

    (University of Toronto)

  • Edward H. Sargent

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

Electrosynthesis of acetate from CO offers the prospect of a low-carbon-intensity route to this valuable chemical––but only once sufficient selectivity, reaction rate and stability are realized. It is a high priority to achieve the protonation of the relevant intermediates in a controlled fashion, and to achieve this while suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and while steering multicarbon (C2+) products to a single valuable product––an example of which is acetate. Here we report interface engineering to achieve solid/liquid/gas triple-phase interface regulation, and we find that it leads to site-selective protonation of intermediates and the preferential stabilization of the ketene intermediates: this, we find, leads to improved selectivity and energy efficiency toward acetate. Once we further tune the catalyst composition and also optimize for interfacial water management, we achieve a cadmium-copper catalyst that shows an acetate Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 75% with ultralow HER (

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyue Wang & Yuanjun Chen & Feng Li & Rui Kai Miao & Jianan Erick Huang & Zilin Zhao & Xiao-Yan Li & Roham Dorakhan & Senlin Chu & Jinhong Wu & Sixing Zheng & Weiyan Ni & Dongha Kim & Sungjin Park & , 2024. "Site-selective protonation enables efficient carbon monoxide electroreduction to acetate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44727-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44727-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Haoyuan Chi & Zhanpeng Liang & Siyu Kuang & Yaxin Jin & Minglu Li & Tianxiang Yan & Jianlong Lin & Shuangyin Wang & Sheng Zhang & Xinbin Ma, 2025. "Electrosynthesis of ethylene glycol from biomass glycerol," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.

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