Talk by Beatriz Roldan
Director of the Interface Science Department at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin
Title: Insight into CO2 Electroreduction through rational Catalyst and Electrolyte Design
Abstract:
The utilization of fossil fuels as the main energy source gives rise to serious environmental issues, including global warming caused by the continuously increasing level of atmospheric CO2. Recently, the electrochemical conversion of CO2 (CO2RR) to chemicals and fuels driven by electricity derived from renewable energy has been recognized as a promising strategy towards sustainable energy.
I will provide examples of recent advances in the development of highly active plasma-modified single crystals, nanostructured thin films and nanoparticle (NP) electrocatalysts (Cu, Ag, Zn, and Cu-M with M = Co, Zn, Sn) and how their structure (crystal orientation, atomic arrangement, size, shape, defects,…), oxidation state and composition influence their selectivity in CO2RR. I will also discuss how important morphological motives and chemical sites can be created and generated in pulsed electrochemistry experiments. Additionally, the determining role of the electrolyte in the surface restructuring, reaction activity and selectivity will be illustrated by considering the role of different cations and anions (Cs+, Li+, Na+, K+, I-, Br-, Cl-) in aqueous electrolytes. Finally, the importance of in situ and operando characterization methods (e.g. EC-AFM, Liquid-TEM, XAS, XPS) to gain in depth understanding on the structure- and electrolyte-sensitivity of real CO2RR catalysts under working conditions will be demonstrated. Our results are expected to open up new routes for the reutilization of CO2 through its direct selective conversion into higher value products.