Electrolyte Tailoring for Electrocatalytic Reduction of Stable Molecules

Authors

Jin-han LI, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China;
Fang-yi CHENG, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCast), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Fang-yi CHENG(fycheng@nankai.edu.cn)

Abstract

Reduction of stable molecules such as CO₂ and N₂ is important process in electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies for electrofuels production. However, for the inert nature of CO₂/N₂ molecule and competitive proton reduction in conventional aqueous electrolytes, selective electrochemical carbon/nitrogen fixation suffers from high overpotential, low reaction rate and low selectivity. While addressing these issues has witnessed substantial advances in electrocatalysts, much less attention has been placed on the electrolytes, which play an important role in regulating the local environment and thus the performance of catalysts under operating conditions. Rational design of electrolytes has received increasing interest to boost the activity and selectivity of stable molecule electrocatalysis. In this review, we overview recent progress in mechanistic understanding and strategies development in tailoring electrolytes for electrocatalytic CO₂ and N₂ reduction. We highlight the ion effect, local environment, and interface structure of electrocatalysts and electrolytes based on experimental and computational studies on representative examples. Particular discussion is provided on the effect of local pH modulation, electrolyte concentrating, selective ionic adsorption and nonaqueous electrolyte.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen reduction, electrolyte, electrocatalysis

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.200442

Publication Date

2020-08-28

Online Available Date

2020-06-28

Revised Date

2020-06-11

Received Date

2020-05-04

Recommended Citation

Jin-han LI, Fang-yi CHENG. Electrolyte Tailoring for Electrocatalytic Reduction of Stable Molecules[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2020 , 26(4): 474-485.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.200442
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol26/iss4/8