Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide
Image credit: P. Sebastián-Pascual et al., ChemCatChem (2019).
The use of renewable electricity can be used to convert greenhouse gasses such as CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals while contributing to closing the unbalanced carbon cycle. Addressing selectivity for complex electrochemical reactions involving multiple reaction mechanisms, such as CO2 and CO reduction, requires the control of the electrode material at the atomic level as well as the electrolyte composition.
Recently, we have developed some strategies aiming to understand the structure-activity-selectivity relations for CO2 and CO electrocatalysis. We have investigated the interfacial properties of Cu single-crystalline electrodes in contact with different electrolytes. We have studied the effect of pH, specific anion adsorption and potential dependence of interfacial processes for CO electroreduction. These studies are essential to understand the structure-function relations and, ultimately, to rationally design highly efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction into renewable fuels and chemicals.
Key publications:
P. Sebastián-Pascual, A. S. Petersen, A. Bagger, J. Rossmeisl, M. Escudero-Escribano*, “pH and anion effects on Cu-phosphate solution interfaces for electrocatalytic CO reduction”, ACS Catalysis, 2021, 11, 1128.
P. Sebastián-Pascual, M. Escudero-Escribano*, “Surface characterisation of Cu electrocatalysts by lead underpotential deposition”, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 2021, 896, 115446.
P. Sebastián-Pascual, M. Escudero-Escribano*, “Addressing the interfacial properties for CO electroreduction on Cu with cyclic voltammetry”, ACS Energy Letters, 2020, 5, 130.
P. Sebastián-Pascual, F. J. Sarabia, V. Climent, J. M. Feliu, M. Escudero-Escribano*, “Investigating the interfacial properties of Cu electrocatalysts with the laser-induced jump temperature method: potential of zero charge and structure sensitivity”, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2020, 124, 23153.
P. Sebastián-Pascual, S. Mezzavilla, I.E.L. Stephens, M. Escudero-Escribano*, “Structure-sensitivity and electrolyte effects in CO2 electroreduction: from model studies to applications” ChemCatChem, 2019, 11, 3626. Invited to the special issue “Women of Catalysis”