Highly efficient and stable ethanol electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide at −250 mA cm−2

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) to ethanol (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH) represents notable research significance and commercial value in large-scale chemical production. However, the limited selectivity for C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH and the uncontrollable changes in active sites during reaction process restrict the ability of catalyst to achieve stable and efficient CO<sub>2</sub>RR to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH at industrial current density. Here, we report a system that immunizes the reconstruction of catalytic active sites, where the CuAg catalytic centers are protected by nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). Importantly, the constructed CuAg@NTA catalyst exhibits low barriers for C-C coupling and hydrogenation of *CH<sub>2</sub>CHO to *CH<sub>3</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>O. Consequently, the catalyst achieves a high ethanol faradaic efficiency (FE<sub>C2H5OH</sub>) of 87.21% with a partial current density of -218.03 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>. Furthermore, the catalyst maintaining over 70% of FE<sub>C2H5OH</sub> after 300 h at -250 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>, which are leading among previously reported catalysts in the selectivity and stability of CO<sub>2</sub>RR to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH at industrial current density. This study provides insights into the selectivity and stability enhancement of catalysts for electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub>RR to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-07-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61132-2
Citations
4
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.45
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article

Highly efficient and stable ethanol electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide at −250 mA cm−2

Yingchen Yang, Longhua Li, Jinhui Hao, Weidong Shi et al.
4 citations
Nature Communications
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
1.45
article

Highly efficient and stable ethanol electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide at −250 mA cm−2

Yingchen Yang, Longhua Li, Jinhui Hao, Weidong Shi, Yifu Yu, Woyuan Li, Hong Liu, Ye Bai, Yaoxuan Wang
article en
4 citations

Abstract

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) to ethanol (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH) represents notable research significance and commercial value in large-scale chemical production. However, the limited selectivity for C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH and the uncontrollable changes in active sites during reaction process restrict the ability of catalyst to achieve stable and efficient CO<sub>2</sub>RR to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH at industrial current density. Here, we report a system that immunizes the reconstruction of catalytic active sites, where the CuAg catalytic centers are protected by nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). Importantly, the constructed CuAg@NTA catalyst exhibits low barriers for C-C coupling and hydrogenation of *CH<sub>2</sub>CHO to *CH<sub>3</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>O. Consequently, the catalyst achieves a high ethanol faradaic efficiency (FE<sub>C2H5OH</sub>) of 87.21% with a partial current density of -218.03 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>. Furthermore, the catalyst maintaining over 70% of FE<sub>C2H5OH</sub> after 300 h at -250 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>, which are leading among previously reported catalysts in the selectivity and stability of CO<sub>2</sub>RR to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH at industrial current density. This study provides insights into the selectivity and stability enhancement of catalysts for electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub>RR to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Jiangsu University (CN), Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
1.45
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Highly efficient and stable ethanol electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide at −250 mA cm−2 — Yingchen Yang, Longhua Li, et al. · Nature Communications (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS