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High yield electrosynthesis of oxygenates from CO using a relay Cu-Ag co-catalyst system

Author

Listed:
  • Nannan Meng

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Zhitan Wu

    (National University of Singapore
    International Campus of Tianjin University)

  • Yanmei Huang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jie Zhang

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Maoxin Chen

    (National University of Singapore
    International Campus of Tianjin University)

  • Haibin Ma

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Hongjiao Li

    (Sichuan University)

  • Shibo Xi

    (Agency of Science Technology and Research)

  • Ming Lin

    (Agency of Science Technology and Research)

  • Wenya Wu

    (Agency of Science Technology and Research)

  • Shuhe Han

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Yifu Yu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Quan-Hong Yang

    (International Campus of Tianjin University)

  • Bin Zhang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Kian Ping Loh

    (National University of Singapore
    International Campus of Tianjin University
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Abstract

As a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based manufacture of bulk oxygenates, electrochemical synthesis using CO and H2O as raw materials at ambient conditions offers immense appeal. However, the upscaling of the electrosynthesis of oxygenates encounters kinetic bottlenecks arising from the competing hydrogen evolution reaction with the selective production of ethylene. Herein, a catalytic relay system that can perform in tandem CO capture, activation, intermediate transfer and enrichment on a Cu-Ag composite catalyst is used for attaining high yield CO-to-oxygenates electrosynthesis at high current densities. The composite catalyst Cu/30Ag (molar ratio of Cu to Ag is 7:3) enables high efficiency CO-to-oxygenates conversion, attaining a maximum partial current density for oxygenates of 800 mA cm−2 at an applied current density of 1200 mA cm−2, and with 67 % selectivity. The ability to finely control the production of ethylene and oxygenates highlights the principle of efficient catalyst design based on the relay mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Nannan Meng & Zhitan Wu & Yanmei Huang & Jie Zhang & Maoxin Chen & Haibin Ma & Hongjiao Li & Shibo Xi & Ming Lin & Wenya Wu & Shuhe Han & Yifu Yu & Quan-Hong Yang & Bin Zhang & Kian Ping Loh, 2024. "High yield electrosynthesis of oxygenates from CO using a relay Cu-Ag co-catalyst system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48083-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48083-w
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