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A review of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction

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Abstract

The excessive emission of CO2 has caused many environmental issues and is severely threatening the eco-system. CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) that driven by sustainable power is an ideal route for realizing the net reduction of CO2 and carbon recycle. Developing efficient electrocatalysts with low cost and high performance is critical for the wide applications of CO2RR electrolysis. Among the various explored CO2RR catalysts, non-noble metal (NNM)-based nanomaterials have drawn increasing attentions due to the remarkable performance and low cost. In this mini-review, the recent advances of NNM-based CO2RR catalysts are summarized, and the catalysts are classified based on their corresponding reduction products. The preparation strategies for engineering the electrocatalysts are introduced, and the relevant CO2RR mechanisms are discussed in detail. Finally, the current challenges in CO2RR research are presented, and some perspectives are proposed for the future development of CO2RR technology. This mini-review introduces the recent advances and frontiers of NNM-based CO2RR catalysts, which should shed light on the further exploration of efficient CO2RR electrocatalysts.

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摘要

二氧化碳的过度排放已经导致一系列环境问题并严重威胁着生态系统的安全。利用可再生电能驱动的二氧化碳电化学还原 (CO2 electroreduction reaction, CO2RR) 反应是一种实现CO2减排和碳循环的理想途径。而开发低成本高效的电催化剂是实现CO2RR实际应用的关键。在种类繁多的CO2RR催化剂中, 非贵金属基(non-noble metal, NNM) 纳米材料由于其较高的活性和较低的成本而备受关注。本综述总结了非贵金属基CO2RR催化材料的近期研究进展并基于其还原产物进行了分类。同时, 本文针对相关材料的制备策略及其CO2RR反应机制进行了详细介绍。最后, 本文总结了目前CO2RR领域的研究难点并为其今后的进一步发展进行了展望。本综述旨在通过介绍非贵金属基CO2RR催化剂的研究进展, 从而为高效CO2RR催化材料的研发提供参考。

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [10]. Copyright 2020, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

Fig. 3

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [41]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society. d SEM image and e AFM image and height distribution of BiOI nanosheets; f Faradaic efficiencies of different products on different catalysts. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [42]. Copyright 2018, Nature Publishing Group

Fig. 4

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [43]. Copyright 2019, Royal Society of Chemistry

Fig. 5

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [44]. Copyright 2016, Nature Publishing Group. c SEM and d STEM images of Bi-Sn catalysts, e formate Faradaic efficiency on different electrodes and f projected density of states of different orbitals on Sn (101) and Bi-Sn (101) surfaces with adsorbed HCOO*. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [45]. Copyright 2018, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

Fig. 6

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [46]. Copyright 2020, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

Fig. 7

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [47]. Copyright 2020, Royal Society of Chemistry

Fig. 8

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [48]. Copyright 2019, Nature Publishing Group

Fig. 9

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [51]. Copyright 2020, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim. d Free energy changes of CO2RR for different samples. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [52]. Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society

Fig. 10

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [53]. Copyright 2020, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim. d characterizations of Ni-N3-V sample, e CO Faradaic efficiencies of different samples and f free energy change for the CO2RR to CO of different samples. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [54]. Copyright 2020, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

Fig. 11

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [56]. Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society. c TEM image and d fitting of EXAFS data of CoSA/HCNFs. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [57]. Copyright 2020, Elsevier

Fig. 12

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [61]. Copyright 2019, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Fig. 13

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [64]. Copyright 2019, Nature Publishing Group

Fig. 14

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [66]. Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society. e STEM image of ZnN4/C, f TOFs of Zn Nx/C catalyst and g free energy changes of CO2RR on different catalysts. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [67]. Copyright 2018, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

Fig. 15

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [68]. Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society. d SEM images of prism Cu catalyst. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [69]. Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society

Fig. 16

Copyright 2019, Nature Publishing Group. b TEM image of catalyst, c formate Faradaic efficiency and current density of different samples and d current density and onset potential of different catalysts. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [71]. Copyright 2020, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

Fig. 17

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [75]. Copyright 2019, Nature Publishing Group. d In-situ SERS patterns of CO2RR at Ag electrode surface during CO2RR test. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [78]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society. e In-situ ATR-IR profiles of Pd/C-based catalysts during CO2RR. Reproduced with permission from Ref. [79]. Copyright 2020, Royal Society of Chemistry

Fig. 18

Reproduced with permission from Ref. [80]. Copyright 2019, Wiley–VCH GmbH, Weinheim

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 52001227 and 51972224) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2019M661014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Processing Technology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Jia-Jun Wang, Xiao-Peng Li, Bing-Feng Cui, Zhao Zhang, Jia Ding, Yi-Da Deng, Xiao-Peng Han & Wen-Bin Hu

  2. Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Fuzhou, 350207, China

    Wen-Bin Hu

  3. Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA

    Xiao-Fei Hu

Authors
  1. Jia-Jun Wang
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  2. Xiao-Peng Li
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  3. Bing-Feng Cui
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  4. Zhao Zhang
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  5. Xiao-Fei Hu
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  6. Jia Ding
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  7. Yi-Da Deng
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  8. Xiao-Peng Han
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  9. Wen-Bin Hu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-Peng Han.

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Wang, JJ., Li, XP., Cui, BF. et al. A review of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction. Rare Met. 40, 3019–3037 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-021-01736-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-021-01736-x

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