Review highlights P-block metals-based electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction

The electrochemical conversion of atmospheric CO₂ into useful chemical fuels can help address the global crisis of CO₂ emissions. To further this goal, researchers must develop cost-effective electrocatalysts that can maintain the successful electrochemical conversion and accelerate the CO₂ reduction reaction.

Yang et al. review recent research on P-block metals-based (Sn, In, Bi, Pb) electrocatalysts, a group of electrocatalysts with high selectivity for reduction of CO₂ into formic acid.

“Formic acid is an important raw material in fuel cells, leather and papermaking fields,” said author Kelvin Zhang. “The high selectivity of P-block metals-based electrocatalysts offers a great opportunity to produce formic acid. However, the efficiency of current devices is still very low. There are still many scientific challenges remaining to be solved.”

The researchers focused their contribution on summarizing the surface chemistry, active sites, and reaction pathways, emphasizing the relationship between electronic/atomic structure and electrocatalytic properties. They also reviewed several optimization strategies such as morphology control, nano-structuring, grain boundaries, doping, alloying and defects engineering.

“A multidisciplinary approach aiming at revealing the basic reaction mechanisms on catalysts surfaces and interfaces is key to the development of industrial processes to support a sustainable society,” said Zhang. “Such mechanistic studies can take advantage of current advances in the preparation of well-defined samples and in-situ spectroscopic techniques. This is important to draw more unambiguous conclusions on experimental work and allows a better comparison with theoretical calculations that describe the electrocatalytic systems.”

Source: “P-block metals-based (Sn, In, Bi, Pb) electrocatalysts for selective reduction of CO₂ to formate,” by Zhenni Yang, Freddy E. Oropeza, and Kelvin H. L. Zhang, APL Materials (2020). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0004194 .