Emergence of CO2 electrolyzers including supported molecular catalysts

• Published in: Current opinion in electrochemistry 2020-12, Vol.24, p.49-55
• Main Authors: Torbensen, Kristian, Boudy, Benjamin, Joulié, Dorian, von Wolff, Niklas, Robert, Marc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; CO2 catalysis; Electrolyzers; Flow cells; Molecular catalysts
• ISSN: 2451-9103; 2451-9111; 2451-9103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coelec.2020.07.001

With access to cheap, sustainable electricity, electrocatalysis is a promising technology for converting electric power into storable chemical fuels or value-added chemical compounds. This has sparked the development of electrocatalysts that need to operate at high product selectivity and high energy efficiency. Electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation, oxygen activation and nitrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction are examples of reactions with a huge industrial potential. Notably, electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 has recently developed as a favourable pathway to convert this greenhouse gas into value-added chemicals and fuels. Earth-abundant metals stabilized by carbon/nitrogen macrocycle ligands are well-known efficient and selective catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 in homogeneous conditions. Recently, such catalysts have also been used in supported conditions and implemented in flow cell electrolyzers, showing promising performances. This review provides a synopsis for the evolution of CO2 electrolyzers using molecular catalysts.