Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2024, Vol. 57: 1-17.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(23)64588-7

• Reviews •     Next Articles

Defect and interface engineering for promoting electrocatalytic N-integrated CO2 co-reduction

Zhichao Wanga, Mengfan Wangb,*(), Yunfei Huanc, Tao Qianc, Jie Xionga, Chengtao Yanga,*(), Chenglin Yanb,d,*()   

  1. aState Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China
    bCollege of Energy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
    cSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, China
    dSchool of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2023-10-26 Accepted:2023-12-21 Online:2024-02-18 Published:2024-02-10
  • Contact: * E-mail: mfwang1204@suda.edu.cn (M. Wang), ctyang@uestc.edu.cn (C. Yang),c.yan@suda.edu.cn (C. Yan).
  • About author:Mengfan Wang is a postdoc fellow in the College of Energy at Soochow University in Suzhou, China. He received his PhD degree from Soochow University in 2021. His current research focuses on rational design of electrocatalytic systems toward gas‐involved electrochemical reactions.
    Chengtao Yang is a full professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC). He received his Ph.D. degree in materials physics and chemistry from the UESTC in 2004. His research interests focus on ferroelectric/piezoelectric film materials and ferroelectric/piezo- electric integrated device, electronic ceramic materials and components, and energy materials.
    Chenglin Yan (School of Petrochemical Engineering at Changzhou University) is a Professor and Vice President of the School of Petrochemical Engineering at Changzhou University in Changzhou, China. He received his Ph.D. from Dalian University of Technology in 2008. In 2011, he became a staff scientist and a group leader at the Institute for Integrative Nanoscience at the Leibniz Institute in Dresden (Germany). His primary research interests focus on electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20332);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52103226);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52202275);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52203314);National Natural Science Foundation of China(12204253);Distinguished Young Scholars Fund of Jiangsu Province(BK20220061)

Abstract:

Current industrial manufacturing producing chemicals and fertilizers usually requires harsh conditions with high energy consumption, and is thus a major contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. With the increasing demand for sustainability, the scientific researchers are endeavoring to develop efficient carbon-neutral and nitrogen-cycle strategies that utilize sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies. In this context, electrocatalytic coupling of CO2 and nitrogenous species (such as nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite) to high-value-added chemicals and fuels with rationally designed electrocatalysts is a promising strategy to restore the imbalanced carbon neutrality and nitrogen cycle. However, despite considerable breakthrough in recent years, the electrocatalytic N-integrated CO2 co-reduction still suffers from the unsatisfactory activity and selectivity, as well as the ambiguous C-N coupling mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on defect and interface engineering strategies to design highly efficient electrocatalysts for electrochemical C-N coupling. Especially, the structure-activity relationships between defect/interface engineering and electrochemical performance are systematically illustrated using representative experimental data and theoretical calculations. Moreover, the major challenge and future development direction of defect and interface engineering are also proposed. It is hoped that this work can provide guidance and enlightenment for the development of electrochemical C-N coupling technology.

Key words: C-N coupling reaction, Defect engineering, Interface engineering, Synthetic urea, CO2 reduction