Nutrient diffusion-inspired catalysts with self-reinforced concentration gradient for sustainable electroreduction of dilute CO2
The electrocatalysis of flue gas into CO in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) provides a sustainable route for realizing practical CO<sub>2</sub> electrolysis technology but suffers from restricted CO<sub>2</sub> mass transport due to thick gas boundary layer (GBL) and weak concentration gradient. Inspired by nutrient diffusion mechanism in plant, we introduce the concept of self-reinforced CO<sub>2</sub> concentration gradient, which is realized via porous carbon nanosheets (PC) as soil for enriching CO<sub>2</sub> and single-atomic Ni-doped carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) as rhizome for electro-catalyzing CO<sub>2</sub>. A combined experimental and simulation study reveals optimal length of Ni-CNTs on PC reduces the GBL thickness and spontaneously enhances CO<sub>2</sub> concentration gradient, synergistically breaking the limitation of CO<sub>2</sub> transport. Consequently, the CO Faradaic efficiency attains >90% with varying CO<sub>2</sub> concentration of 4-15 vol. % CO<sub>2</sub> in MEA. Further through incorporation of an O<sub>2</sub>-adsorption packed column before MEA, we realize the stable and selective conversion of O<sub>2</sub>-containing flue gas into CO.
Authors
- Zhuang Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2052-8633)
- Yue Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6409-104X)
- Xuelong Liao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1928-8502)
- Wenlong Lan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0988-3658)
- Wei Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6130-1227)
- Jinhan Li
- Jialei Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6053-9302)
- Zhuo Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6724-2571)
- Shan Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2713-942X)
- Wei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0759-7332)
- Lixin Cao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0323-2475)
- Tiantian Lu
- Sheng Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7532-1923)
- Huan Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8419-8402)
- Wenyue Cui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7639-3037)
- Youzeng Li
- Runyu Lv
Institutions
- Tianjin University (CN)
- Nankai University (CN)
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (CN)
- Unité Matériaux et Transformations (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-08-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62240-9
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.73
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
- Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation of Food Nutrition and Human Health (111 Center)
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences