Chinese researchers develop method that enables efficient CO2 electroreduction to CO

In China, research team from the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported a novel method that enables efficient CO2 electroreduction to CO by virtue of low-coordination chloride ion adsorption on a silver hollow fiber electrode. 

The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into carbon-based fuels and valuable feedstocks by renewable electricity is an attractive strategy for carbon neutrality. CO is the key component of syngas, a mixture of CO and H2 that can be directly converted into various value-added chemicals via well-developed industrial processes. Therefore, CO2 electroreduction to CO is one of the most promising routes to obtain cost-competitive products.  

However, due to the low solubility and diffusion coefficient of CO2 in aqueous electrolytes, it remains a challenge to possess large current density, high faradaic efficiency and excellent stability for practical applications of CO2 utilization.

In this study, on the basis of the highly efficient electroreduction CO2 to CO over silver hollow fiber electrode, the research team further introduced chloride ions into the electrode solution. By means of specific adsorption of chloride ions, the electronic structure of the electrode surface was functionally regulated to inhibit the side reaction of hydrogen evolution.