Nanostructured Materials and Electrodes Engineering for Efficient CO2 Conversion

Abstract

The conversion of CO2 to valuable chemicals via electrochemical CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) offers a clean approach for recycling CO2 with sustainable and environmental benefits. Among a variety of derived chemicals, carbon monoxide (CO) and formic acid (HCOOH) are attracting attention on the basis that fewer electrons are needed and they have large potential markets (CO for synthetic gas and formic acid for hydrogen carrier). Nevertheless, CO2RR is difficult and needs harsh reaction conditions due to CO2 is thermodynamically stable. Up till now, the research of efficient materials is still at the early stage and far from the requirements of high activity, high selectivity, long stability, and low overpotential. Nonetheless, the prospect of an efficient electrolytic cell has drawn attention recently on account of scaling-up the CO2RR process and integration with smart energy-grids.

This thesis composes of three works and starts with nanostructured catalysts investigations: Chapters 3 focuses on CO2-to-formate transformation, while Chapter 4 digs into CO2-to-CO transformation. Then Chapter 5 proposes a new kind of flow cells for potential implementation into the economic continuous CO2RR scaling-up process.