Issue 10, 2019

Understanding cation effects in electrochemical CO2 reduction

Abstract

Solid–liquid interface engineering has recently emerged as a promising technique to optimize the activity and product selectivity of the electrochemical reduction of CO2. In particular, the cation identity and the interfacial electric field have been shown to have a particularly significant impact on the activity of desired products. Using a combination of theoretical and experimental investigations, we show the cation size and its resultant impact on the interfacial electric field to be the critical factor behind the ion specificity of electrochemical CO2 reduction. We present a multi-scale modeling approach that combines size-modified Poisson–Boltzmann theory with ab initio simulations of field effects on critical reaction intermediates. The model shows an unprecedented quantitative agreement with experimental trends in cation effects on CO production on Ag, C2 production on Cu, CO vibrational signatures on Pt and Cu as well as Au(111) single crystal experimental double layer capacitances. The insights obtained represent quantitative evidence for the impact of cations on the interfacial electric field. Finally, we present design principles to increase the activity and selectivity of any field-sensitive electrochemical process based on the surface charging properties: the potential of zero charge, the ion size, and the double layer capacitance.

Graphical abstract: Understanding cation effects in electrochemical CO2 reduction

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Apr. 2019
Accepted
03 Jūl. 2019
First published
03 Jūl. 2019

Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 3001-3014

Author version available

Understanding cation effects in electrochemical CO2 reduction

S. Ringe, E. L. Clark, J. Resasco, A. Walton, B. Seger, A. T. Bell and K. Chan, Energy Environ. Sci., 2019, 12, 3001 DOI: 10.1039/C9EE01341E

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