A team of researchers from the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new gold-based hybrid material that efficiently converts carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) through electrochemical reactions. The process has the potential to reduce pollution levels by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and also providing an alternative energy source, as CO can be used as an ingredient.
Excessive amounts of CO2 released by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have led to an increase in global temperatures, known as climate change. The current levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are causing environmental problems, and so finding a way to efficiently remove this gas has become a pressing concern.
The researchers modified gold to create the new hybrid material, which allows for more efficient CO2RR than previously possible.
The researchers created a controlled synthesis of nanoparticles by modifying CB[6], which has negatively charged portals and positively charged surfaces that contribute to the electronic interaction between CB[6] and metal regulating the catalytic performance. The modification of CB[6] allows for improved CO2RR by breaking the previously mentioned scaling relations of the binding affinity between the catalyst surface and CO2/CO. Additionally, CB[6] can increase the local CO2 concentration near the metal surface by gathering CO2, meaning that the new hybrid material has tunable CO2 enrichment.
The researchers verified both the morphology and surface structure of the nanoparticles through transmission electron microscopy and found that the gold-based hybrid material (Au@CB[6]) enhances CO2RR catalytic activity.
The researchers plan to continue to modify the catalyst in order to further improve the efficiency of the CO2RR. The next step is to adjust the shape and size of the gold catalyst in the presence of cucurbit[n]uril to further promote the catalytic performance towards electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to value-added products. The research was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China, the NSFC, and the Fujian Science & Technology. The findings were published in the journal Nano Research.
