Electrochemical CO2 reduction toward multicarbon alcohols - The microscopic world of catalysts & process conditions
Theresa Jaster,
Alina Gawel,
Daniel Siegmund,
Johannes Holzmann,
Heiko Lohmann,
Elias Klemm,
Ulf-Peter Apfel
Affiliations
Theresa Jaster
Department of Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Str. 3, D46047 Oberhausen, Germany; Inorganic Chemistry I, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D44801 Bochum, Germany
Alina Gawel
Department of Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Str. 3, D46047 Oberhausen, Germany; Inorganic Chemistry I, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D44801 Bochum, Germany
Daniel Siegmund
Department of Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Str. 3, D46047 Oberhausen, Germany
Johannes Holzmann
Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Heiko Lohmann
Department of Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Str. 3, D46047 Oberhausen, Germany
Elias Klemm
Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Ulf-Peter Apfel
Department of Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Str. 3, D46047 Oberhausen, Germany; Inorganic Chemistry I, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D44801 Bochum, Germany; Corresponding author
Summary: Tackling climate change is one of the undoubtedly most important challenges at the present time. This review deals mainly with the chemical aspects of the current status for converting the greenhouse gas CO2 via electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to multicarbon alcohols as valuable products. Feasible reaction routes are presented, as well as catalyst synthesis methods such as electrodeposition, precipitation, or sputtering. In addition, a comprehensive overview of the currently achievable selectivities for multicarbon alcohols in CO2RR is given. It is also outlined to what extent, for example, modifications of the catalyst surfaces or the use of bifunctional compounds the product distribution is shifted. In addition, the influence of varying electrolyte, temperature, and pressure is described and discussed.
