催化学报 ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (7): 1547-1597.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(21)64000-7

• 二氧化碳催化转化专栏 • 上一篇    下一篇

单原子基催化剂用于电化学CO2还原

孙倩, 贾忱, 赵勇, 赵川()   

  1. 新南威尔士大学化学学院, 悉尼, 澳大利亚
  • 收稿日期:2021-09-27 接受日期:2021-12-14 出版日期:2022-07-18 发布日期:2022-05-20
  • 通讯作者: 赵川

Single atom-based catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction

Qian Sun, Chen Jia, Yong Zhao, Chuan Zhao()   

  1. School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
  • Received:2021-09-27 Accepted:2021-12-14 Online:2022-07-18 Published:2022-05-20
  • Contact: Chuan Zhao
  • Supported by:
    Australian Research Council(FT170100224)

摘要:

以可再生能源为动力的电化学CO2还原反应(CO2RR)可以将CO2转化为高附加值化学品, 成为解决环境问题和能源危机的一种有前途的方法. 单原子催化剂(SAC)是一种分散在载体上的孤立的单金属原子催化剂, 由于具有强单原子-载体相互作用、最大的金属利用率和较好的催化活性, 在CO2RR中表现出优异的性能. 然而, SAC存在颗粒团聚、金属负载量低、难以大规模生产等问题. 此外, 作为另一类单原子基催化剂, 分子催化剂由金属离子和配体分子组成, 具有与金属氮碳(M-N-C)类似的金属氮(M-N)活性中心, 由于其明确的活性位点以及活性位点的空间和电子性质的可调性, 其表现出高活性. 然而, 分子催化剂存在活性、选择性和稳定性不够高、导电性较差及容易聚集等问题. 目前, 许多研究工作致力于克服SAC和分子催化剂的上述问题, 以获得高性能的CO2RR催化剂, 但关于其制备、应用和表征的系统总结的综述较少. 基于此, 本文总结了近年来用于制备CO2RR的SAC的先进策略, 包括湿化学方法(缺陷工程、空间限制、配位设计)、其他合成方法和大规模生产SAC. 此外, 讨论了SACs和分子催化剂在CO2RR上的电化学应用, 包括产物的法拉第效率、分电流密度以及催化剂的稳定性. 简要评述了在非原位和原位/操作条件下的表征技术, 有助于探索活性位点和理解CO2RR催化机理. 最后, 指出了单原子基催化剂(SACs、分子催化剂)未来的发展方向.

关键词: CO2电还原, 湿化学法, 单原子催化剂, 分子催化剂, 原位表征

Abstract:

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), powered by renewable energy, emerges as a promising approach against environmental issues and energy crisis by converting CO2 into value-added chemicals. Single atom catalysts (SACs) with isolated metal atoms dispersed on supports exhibit outstanding performance for CO2 electroreduction, because of their strong single atom-support interactions, maximum metal utilization and excellent catalytic activity. However, SACs suffer from agglomeration of particles, low metal loading, and difficulty in large-scale production. In addition, molecular catalysts as another single atom-based catalyst, consisting of ligands molecules connected to metal ions, exhibited similar metal-nitrogen (M-N) active centers as that in metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) SACs, which were highly active to CO2 reduction due to their well-defined active sites and tunability over the steric and electronic properties of the active sites. Nonetheless, molecular catalysts are challenged by generally moderate activity, selectivity and stability, poor conductivity and aggregation. Many works have been devoted to overcoming these issues of SACs and molecular catalysts for efficient CO2RR, but only limited reviews for systematic summary of their fabrication, application, and characterizations, which were highlighted in this review. Firstly, we summarize recent advanced strategies in preparing SACs for CO2RR, including wet-chemistry approaches (defect engineering, spatial confinement, and coordination design), other synthetic methods and large-scale production of SACs. Besides, electrochemical applications of SACs and molecular catalysts on CO2RR are discussed, which involved the faradaic efficiency and partial current density of the desired product as well as the catalyst stability. In addition, ex-situ and in-situ/operando characterization techniques are briefly assessed, benefiting probing the active sites and understanding the CO2RR catalytic mechanisms. Finally, future directions for the development of single atom-based catalysts (SACs, molecular catalysts) are pointed out.

Key words: CO2 electroreduction, Wet-chemistry approach, Single atom catalyst, Molecular catalyst, In-situ characterization