Summary: Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China develop a hydrogen-bonding microenvironment enhancing CO2 conversion to valuable products, offering a path for sustainable chemical production.
Scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China have engineered a unique hydrogen-bonding microenvironment to improve CO2 electroreduction efficiency. This breakthrough can transform waste CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals, combining environmental benefits with economic growth.
Hydrogen-Bonding Microenvironment Enhances Catalytic Performance
The new CO2 reduction strategy centers on stabilizing the *COOH intermediate, a key and energy-demanding step in CO2 electroreduction. The research team, led by Professors Jiang Hai-Long and Jiao Long, mimicked enzyme catalysis by designing a molecular microenvironment that stabilizes this intermediate through hydrogen bonding. This approach significantly lowers the reaction energy barrier, making the process more efficient.
Advanced Material Design with MOF Nanosheets
The team synthesized materials by co-grafting catalytically active Co(salen) units alongside pyridyl-substituted alkyl carboxylic acids onto hafnium-based metal-organic framework nanosheets (MOFNs). This precise spatial control at the atomic level allows for optimal positioning of pyridine groups relative to catalytic sites, driving microenvironment modulation and enhanced CO2 electroreduction.
Superior Catalytic Activity and Mechanistic Insights
Among their catalysts, Co&p-PyC3/MOFNs showed the highest activity and selectivity, surpassing variants without pyridine groups. In situ studies revealed that pyridine converts to a pyridinyl radical forming a triad intermediate with trifluoroethanol, stabilizing the *COOH intermediate via hydrogen bonds. This detailed mechanistic understanding clarifies how microenvironment design can optimize catalytic performance.
This work demonstrates the power of microenvironment engineering in catalysis, opening pathways for developing efficient CO2 conversion technologies. Capitalizing on this method could revolutionize sustainable chemical production and boost green energy markets.
Source: Phys.org,
Tag: Technology,Green Chemistry