Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst

The high-energy-density C 3 fuel n -propanol is desired from CO 2 /CO electroreduction, as evidenced by propanol’s high market price per tonne (approximately US$ 1,400–1,600). However, CO electroreduction to n -propanol has shown low selectivity, limited production rates and poor stability. Here we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature energy 2022-02, Vol.7 (2), p.170-176
Main Authors: Wang, Xue, Ou, Pengfei, Ozden, Adnan, Hung, Sung-Fu, Tam, Jason, Gabardo, Christine M., Howe, Jane Y., Sisler, Jared, Bertens, Koen, García de Arquer, F. Pelayo, Miao, Rui Kai, O’Brien, Colin P., Wang, Ziyun, Abed, Jehad, Rasouli, Armin Sedighian, Sun, Mengjia, Ip, Alexander H., Sinton, David, Sargent, Edward H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/299/886
639/4077/4057
639/4077/909/4101/4102
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Catalysts
Computer applications
Copper
Economics
Economics and Management
Electrocatalysts
Electrowinning
Energy
Energy Policy
Energy Storage
Energy Systems
Fuels
Intermediates
Profitability
Propanol
Renewable and Green Energy
Ruthenium
Selectivity
Silver
Stability
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Summary:The high-energy-density C 3 fuel n -propanol is desired from CO 2 /CO electroreduction, as evidenced by propanol’s high market price per tonne (approximately US$ 1,400–1,600). However, CO electroreduction to n -propanol has shown low selectivity, limited production rates and poor stability. Here we report catalysts, identified using computational screening, that simultaneously facilitate multiple carbon–carbon coupling, stabilize C 2 intermediates and promote CO adsorption, all leading to improved n -propanol electrosynthesis. Experimentally we construct the predicted optimal electrocatalyst based on silver–ruthenium co-doped copper. We achieve, at 300 mA cm −2 , a high n -propanol Faradaic efficiency of 36% ± 3%, a C 2+ Faradaic efficiency of 93% and single-pass CO conversion of 85%. The system exhibits 100 h stable n -propanol electrosynthesis. Technoeconomic analysis based on the performance of the pilot system projects profitability. Copper-based catalysts are promising for electroreduction of carbon monoxide to multi-carbon products, yet further improvements in selectivity, productivity and stability are still needed. Here the authors show that doping copper with silver and ruthenium boosts its performance towards synthesis of n -propanol—a useful fuel.
ISSN:2058-7546
2058-7546
DOI:10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7