Cited by 1,667CO2 Reduction Techniques and CatalystsCatalysts for Methane ReformingElectrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Activity Descriptors for CO 2 Electroreduction to Methane on Transition-Metal Catalysts

Peterson, Andrew A., Nørskov, Jens K.·2012·The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 into hydrocarbons and alcohols would allow renewable energy sources to be converted into fuels and chemicals. However, no electrode catalysts have been developed that can perform this transformation with a low overpotential at reasonable current densities. In this work, we compare trends in binding energies for the intermediates in CO 2 electrochemical reduction and present an activity “volcano” based on this analysis. This analysis describes the experimentally observed variations in transition-metal catalysts, including why copper is the best-known metal electrocatalyst. The protonation of adsorbed CO is singled out as the most important step dictating the overpotential. New strategies are presented for the discovery of catalysts that can operate with a reduced overpotential.

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Crossref · 10.1021/jz201461p

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  • For transition metals in general, the binding behaviors of *H, *COOH, and *CO all have the same tendency due to a well-known scaling relation.

    “due to a well-known scaling relation, the binding behaviors of *H, *COOH, and *CO all have the same tendency for transition metals in general.3,7”
  • A strong correlation between binding energies of various reaction intermediates on transition metals and a lack of ability to independently control them poses a significant intrinsic limitation in developing suitable catalysts for large-scale commercialization of the CO2 reduction reaction.

    “general understanding at present is that a strong correlation between binding energies of various reaction intermediates on transition metals and a lack of ability to independently control them poses a significant intrinsic limitation in developing suitable catalysts for large-scale commercialization of the CO2 reduction reaction.”

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Authors
Peterson, A. A., & Nørskov, J. K.
Affiliations
  • Technical University of Denmark (DK)
  • SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Nørskov, Jens K.
Venue
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Published
2012-01-10
Volume
3
Issue
2
Pages
251-258
ISSN
1948-7185 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2314642759
Cited by
1,667
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 114 · 2025: 153 · 2024: 163 · 2023: 151 · 2022: 160 · 2021: 179 · 2020: 159 · 2019: 123 · 2018: 127 · 2017: 105 · 2016: 75 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 12
FWCI
19.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of California, San Diego
  • Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
  • Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Catalysis › Catalysts for Methane Reforming
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Keywords
electrochemical CO2 reduction, methane synthesis, transition metal catalysts, electrocatalysis, binding energy, copper catalysts, overpotential, reaction intermediates, catalyst discovery

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