Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review
Nowadays, transition towards green chemistry is becoming imperative. In this scenario, an attractive perspective consists in the generation of CO through the electrochemical reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> under ambient conditions. This approach allows storage of the electrical energy from i...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/3/275 |
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| author | Davide Scarpa Maria Sarno |
| author_facet | Davide Scarpa Maria Sarno |
| author_sort | Davide Scarpa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nowadays, transition towards green chemistry is becoming imperative. In this scenario, an attractive perspective consists in the generation of CO through the electrochemical reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> under ambient conditions. This approach allows storage of the electrical energy from intermittent renewable sources in the form of chemical bonds, and simultaneously reduces greenhouse gas emissions, giving carbon a second chance of life. However, most catalysts adopted for this process, i.e., noble metal-based nanoparticles, still have several issues (high costs, low current densities, high overpotentials), and in the view of generating syngas through co-electrolysis of H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub>, do not enable a widely tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> ratio. Single-atom catalysts with N-doped carbon supports have been recently introduced to face these challenges. The following review aims to answer the demand for an extended and exhaustive analysis of the metal single-atom catalysts thus far explored for the electro-reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> in aqueous electrolyte solution. Moreover, focus will be placed on the objective of generating a syngas with a tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> ratio. Eventually, the advantages of single-atom catalysts over their noble metal-based nano-sized counterparts will be identified along with future perspectives, also in the view of a rapid and feasible scaling-up. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:01:32Z |
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| id | doaj.art-0ba62f7ea2d145438a3111693db4bfa6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:01:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
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| series | Catalysts |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ba62f7ea2d145438a3111693db4bfa62023-11-24T00:42:11ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442022-02-0112327510.3390/catal12030275Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A ReviewDavide Scarpa0Maria Sarno1Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyNowadays, transition towards green chemistry is becoming imperative. In this scenario, an attractive perspective consists in the generation of CO through the electrochemical reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> under ambient conditions. This approach allows storage of the electrical energy from intermittent renewable sources in the form of chemical bonds, and simultaneously reduces greenhouse gas emissions, giving carbon a second chance of life. However, most catalysts adopted for this process, i.e., noble metal-based nanoparticles, still have several issues (high costs, low current densities, high overpotentials), and in the view of generating syngas through co-electrolysis of H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub>, do not enable a widely tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> ratio. Single-atom catalysts with N-doped carbon supports have been recently introduced to face these challenges. The following review aims to answer the demand for an extended and exhaustive analysis of the metal single-atom catalysts thus far explored for the electro-reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> in aqueous electrolyte solution. Moreover, focus will be placed on the objective of generating a syngas with a tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> ratio. Eventually, the advantages of single-atom catalysts over their noble metal-based nano-sized counterparts will be identified along with future perspectives, also in the view of a rapid and feasible scaling-up.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/3/275CO<sub>2</sub> utilizationsyngaslow-temperature co-electrolysiscarbon dioxide reduction reactionhydrogen evolution reactionsingle-atom catalyst |
| spellingShingle | Davide Scarpa Maria Sarno Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review Catalysts CO<sub>2</sub> utilization syngas low-temperature co-electrolysis carbon dioxide reduction reaction hydrogen evolution reaction single-atom catalyst |
| title | Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review |
| title_full | Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review |
| title_short | Single-Atom Catalysts for the Electro-Reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to Syngas with a Tunable CO/H<sub>2</sub> Ratio: A Review |
| title_sort | single atom catalysts for the electro reduction of co sub 2 sub to syngas with a tunable co h sub 2 sub ratio a review |
| topic | CO<sub>2</sub> utilization syngas low-temperature co-electrolysis carbon dioxide reduction reaction hydrogen evolution reaction single-atom catalyst |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/3/275 |
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