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Highly Efficient Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction Reaction to CO with One‐Pot Synthesized Co‐Pyridine‐Derived Catalyst Incorporated in a Nafion‐Based Membrane Electrode Assembly
Author(s) -
Fujinuma Naohiro,
Ikoma Atsushi,
Lofland Samuel E.
Publication year - 2020
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.202001645
Subject(s) - materials science , electrochemistry , catalysis , pyridine , electrocatalyst , cobalt , electrode , chemical engineering , membrane electrode assembly , reversible hydrogen electrode , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , working electrode , organic chemistry , electrolyte , chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
There is great need for the development of an electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) process with high Faraday efficiency (FE), energy efficiency (EE), and current density for practical utilization of CO 2 . Here, a facile one‐pot synthesis of a catalyst is reported that is based on cobalt and poly‐4‐vinylpyridine that can perform CO 2 RR to CO predominantly with respect to the hydrogen evolution reaction in a nafion‐based membrane electrode assembly and can work in pH ranging from 2 to 7. Cell optimization results in CO 2 RR to CO with 92% FE and 58% EE at 85 mA cm −2 , while showing no noticeable degradation in FE at 20 h. These characteristics are attributed to synthesis and processing conditions which promote nearly uniform coordination of pyridine moieties with Co at the nanoscale in order to produce the appropriate complex necessary for catalysis. Outstanding performance combined with the ease of production, scalability of the method, and accessibility of components pave the way toward the commercialization of an electrochemical CO 2 RR.