Concurrent H2 Generation and Formate Production Assisted by CO2 Absorption in One Electrolyzer

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

11 Scopus Citations
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Author(s)

  • Hongfei Cheng
  • Yumei Liu
  • Jiawen Wu
  • Zheng Zhang
  • Xiaogang Li
  • Hong Jin Fan

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article number2100871
Journal / PublicationSmall Methods
Volume5
Issue number11
Online published7 Oct 2021
Publication statusPublished - 15 Nov 2021
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Electrolyzers coupling electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution with oxidation reactions of small organic molecules have the merits of reducing cell voltage and generating high-value products. Herein, an electrolyzer is designed and optimized that can simultaneously achieve efficient hydrogen generation at the cathode, CO2 absorption by the catholyte, and methanol upgrading to formate at the anode. For these purposes, transition metal phosphides are used as the low-cost catalysts. The unique electrolyzer exhibits a low working voltage of 1.1 V at 10 mA cm−2. Under optimal conditions, the Faraday efficiencies of hydrogen evolution and formic acid conversion reactions, which are the reaction products at the cathode and anode, respectively, are nearly 100% at various current densities from 10 to 400 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the CO2 absorption rate is about twice that of the hydrogen generation rate, which is close to the theoretical value. An innovative and energy-efficient strategy is presented in this work to realize simultaneous hydrogen production and CO2 capture based on low-cost catalyst materials. 

© 2021 The Authors. Small Methods published by Wiley-VCH Gmb

Research Area(s)

  • CO 2 capture, hydrogen generation, low-cost electrocatalysts, metal phosphides, methanol oxidation

Citation Format(s)

Concurrent H2 Generation and Formate Production Assisted by CO2 Absorption in One Electrolyzer. / Cheng, Hongfei; Liu, Yumei; Wu, Jiawen et al.
In: Small Methods, Vol. 5, No. 11, 2100871, 15.11.2021.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review