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Carbon Solving Carbon's Problems: Recent Progress of Nanostructured Carbon‐Based Catalysts for the Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2
Author(s) -
Vasileff Anthony,
Zheng Yao,
Qiao Shi Zhang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201700759
Subject(s) - materials science , nanotechnology , graphene , carbon fibers , electrochemistry , electrocatalyst , carbon nanotube , renewable energy , electrochemical energy conversion , catalysis , electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide , carbon monoxide , electrode , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering , composite number , electrical engineering , composite material
The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to useful molecules offers an elegant technological solution to current energy security and sustainability issues because it sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, provides an energy storage solution for intermittent renewable sources, and can be used to produce fuels and industrial chemicals. Nanostructured carbon materials have been extensively used to catalyse some key electrochemical processes because of their excellent electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and abundant active sites. This progress report focuses on nanostructured carbon materials, namely graphene materials, carbon nanotubes, porphyrin materials, nanodiamond, and glassy carbon, which have recently shown promise as high performing CO 2 reduction electrocatalysts and supports. Along with discussion regarding materials synthesis, structural characterisation, and electrochemical performance characterisation techniques used, this report will discuss the findings of recent computational CO 2 RR studies which have been key to elucidating active sites and reaction mechanisms, and developing strategies to break conventional scaling relationships. Lastly, challenges and future perspective of these carbon‐based materials for CO 2 reduction applications will be given. Much work is still required to realise the commercial viability of the technology, but advanced experimental techniques coupled with theoretical calculations are expected to facilitate future development of the technology.