Work

CO2 Electrolysis Paired with Glycerol Oxidation on Transition-Metal Single-Atom Catalysts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Pairing the carbon dioxide reduction process with the electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol (GOR), instead of the typically applied oxygen evolution reaction, can substantially decrease the cell voltage while forming high-value products at both electrodes. In this contribution, glycerol oxidation was driven as the anode process of a CO2 electrolyzer cell employing different metal (Fe, Ni, and FeNi)-containing nitrogen-doped carbon single-atom catalysts. Under optimal conditions, GOR was sustained at industrially relevant reaction rates (above 100 mA cm–2 current density) with above 90% Faradaic efficiency toward formate formation. At identical total metal loading, the bimetallic FeNi-NC reached around 35–40% higher GOR activity and stability (more than 5 h) under industrially relevant conditions compared to its monometallic counterparts. We demonstrated that a considerable decrease in the metal loading can be achieved by employing single-atom catalysts instead of nanoparticulate catalysts to drive the GOR without sacrificing activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. Our results could serve as a stable foundation in designing future GOR catalysts that could be readily applied as anodes in CO2 electrolyzer cells.

Source: ACS Catalysis

DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.6c03543