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Comparative Analysis of Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Efficiency: A Direct, One-Step Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction Reactor versus a Two-Step, Cascade Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction Reactor

Zhou, Xinghao and Xiang, Chengxiang (2018) Comparative Analysis of Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Efficiency: A Direct, One-Step Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction Reactor versus a Two-Step, Cascade Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction Reactor. ACS Energy Letters, 3 (8). pp. 1892-1897. ISSN 2380-8195. doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01077. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20180717-144513102

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Abstract

Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO_2 reduction (CO_2R) have the potential to produce sustainable, zero greenhouse gas emission fuels and chemicals. One of the key components in a PEC CO2 reduction device is the electrocatalyst materials for the CO_2R reaction. While significant research advances have been made in the development of CO_2 reduction catalysts and in the understanding of the reaction mechanisms, selective, active, and stable catalyst materials have yet to be identified to directly convert CO_2 into higher reduction products, such as ethanol and ethylene. In contrast, several electrocatalyst systems have exhibited promising selectivity and activity for the first two-electron, two-proton process, such as CO_2R to CO or formate. For example, nanostructured silver electrodes, metal dichalcogenides, and single metal atoms in graphene nanosheets exhibited high Faradaic efficiency (FE) and high reaction rates for CO_2R to CO. A Pd/C nanoparticle-based catalyst incorporated in a 10% efficient solar-to-formate conversion device also exhibited near-unity FE at 10s of mA cm^(–2) for CO_2R to formate. Hence, one alternative strategy is to leverage the efficient first two-electron, two-proton reaction by using a two-step, cascade CO_2 reactor, in which the first catalytic reactor converts CO_2 into CO or formate and the second catalytic reactor converts CO or formate into higher-order reduction products such as ethanol or ethylene. Herein, the solar-to-fuel (STF) conversion efficiencies in a direct, one-step CO2reduction reactor and a two-step, cascade CO_2 reduction reactor were analyzed and compared for two distinctive device configurations.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01077DOIArticle
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01077PublisherArticle
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Zhou, Xinghao0000-0001-9229-7670
Xiang, Chengxiang0000-0002-1698-6754
Alternate Title:Comparative Analysis of Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Efficiency: A Direct, One-Step Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reactor versus a Two-Step, Cascade Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reactor
Additional Information:© 2018 American Chemical Society. Received: June 26, 2018; Accepted: July 6, 2018; Published: July 17, 2018. This material is based upon work performed by the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, supported through the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0004993. The authors declare no competing financial interest.
Group:JCAP
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Department of Energy (DOE)DE-SC0004993
Issue or Number:8
DOI:10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01077
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20180717-144513102
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20180717-144513102
Official Citation:Comparative Analysis of Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Efficiency: A Direct, One-Step Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reactor versus a Two-Step, Cascade Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reactor Xinghao Zhou and Chengxiang Xiang ACS Energy Letters 2018 3 (8), 1892-1897 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.8b01077
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:87935
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:17 Jul 2018 22:03
Last Modified:16 Nov 2021 00:22

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