Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst

Xue Wang; Pengfei Ou; Adnan Ozden; Sung Fu Hung; Jason Tam; Christine M. Gabardo; Jane Y. Howe; Jared Sisler; Koen Bertens; F. Pelayo García de Arquer; Rui Kai Miao; Colin P. O’Brien; Ziyun Wang; Jehad Abed; Armin Sedighian Rasouli; Mengjia Sun; Alexander H. Ip; David Sinton; Edward H. Sargent

doi:10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7

Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst

Xue Wang, Pengfei Ou, Adnan Ozden, Sung Fu Hung, Jason Tam, Christine M. Gabardo, Jane Y. Howe, Jared Sisler, Koen Bertens, F. Pelayo García de Arquer, Rui Kai Miao, Colin P. O’Brien, Ziyun Wang, Jehad Abed, Armin Sedighian Rasouli, Mengjia Sun, Alexander H. Ip, David Sinton, Edward H. Sargent^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

189 Scopus citations

Abstract

The high-energy-density C₃ fuel n-propanol is desired from CO₂/CO electroreduction, as evidenced by propanol’s high market price per tonne (approximately US$ 1,400–1,600). However, CO electroreduction to n-propanol has shown low selectivity, limited production rates and poor stability. Here we report catalysts, identified using computational screening, that simultaneously facilitate multiple carbon–carbon coupling, stabilize C₂ intermediates and promote CO adsorption, all leading to improved n-propanol electrosynthesis. Experimentally we construct the predicted optimal electrocatalyst based on silver–ruthenium co-doped copper. We achieve, at 300 mA cm⁻², a high n-propanol Faradaic efficiency of 36% ± 3%, a C₂₊ Faradaic efficiency of 93% and single-pass CO conversion of 85%. The system exhibits 100 h stable n-propanol electrosynthesis. Technoeconomic analysis based on the performance of the pilot system projects profitability.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	170-176
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature Energy
Volume	7
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7
State	Published - Feb 2022

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (number RGPIN-2017-06477, E.H.S.) and the Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence Program (number ORF-RE08-034, E.H.S.). DFT calculations were performed on the Niagara supercomputer at the SciNet HPC Consortium. We acknowledge the computational resources supported by SciNet, which is funded by the University of Toronto, the Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence Program, the Government of Ontario and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. D.S. acknowledges the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship. Synchrotron measurements were carried out at the BL-17C at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. We thank R. Wolowiec and D. Kopilovic for their kind technical assistance, Ontario Centre for the Characterization of Advanced Materials (OCCAM) of the University of Toronto and the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Access to Document

10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7

Cite this

Wang, X., Ou, P., Ozden, A., Hung, S. F., Tam, J., Gabardo, C. M., Howe, J. Y., Sisler, J., Bertens, K., García de Arquer, F. P., Miao, R. K., O’Brien, C. P., Wang, Z., Abed, J., Rasouli, A. S., Sun, M., Ip, A. H., Sinton, D., & Sargent, E. H. (2022). Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst. Nature Energy, 7(2), 170-176. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7

@article{7622eb57e32e4ae98bd52545a7b07d73,

title = "Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst",

abstract = "The high-energy-density C3 fuel n-propanol is desired from CO2/CO electroreduction, as evidenced by propanol{\textquoteright}s high market price per tonne (approximately US$ 1,400–1,600). However, CO electroreduction to n-propanol has shown low selectivity, limited production rates and poor stability. Here we report catalysts, identified using computational screening, that simultaneously facilitate multiple carbon–carbon coupling, stabilize C2 intermediates and promote CO adsorption, all leading to improved n-propanol electrosynthesis. Experimentally we construct the predicted optimal electrocatalyst based on silver–ruthenium co-doped copper. We achieve, at 300 mA cm−2, a high n-propanol Faradaic efficiency of 36% ± 3%, a C2+ Faradaic efficiency of 93% and single-pass CO conversion of 85%. The system exhibits 100 h stable n-propanol electrosynthesis. Technoeconomic analysis based on the performance of the pilot system projects profitability.",

author = "Xue Wang and Pengfei Ou and Adnan Ozden and Hung, {Sung Fu} and Jason Tam and Gabardo, {Christine M.} and Howe, {Jane Y.} and Jared Sisler and Koen Bertens and {Garc{\'i}a de Arquer}, {F. Pelayo} and Miao, {Rui Kai} and O{\textquoteright}Brien, {Colin P.} and Ziyun Wang and Jehad Abed and Rasouli, {Armin Sedighian} and Mengjia Sun and Ip, {Alexander H.} and David Sinton and Sargent, {Edward H.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (number RGPIN-2017-06477, E.H.S.) and the Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence Program (number ORF-RE08-034, E.H.S.). DFT calculations were performed on the Niagara supercomputer at the SciNet HPC Consortium. We acknowledge the computational resources supported by SciNet, which is funded by the University of Toronto, the Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence Program, the Government of Ontario and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. D.S. acknowledges the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship. Synchrotron measurements were carried out at the BL-17C at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. We thank R. Wolowiec and D. Kopilovic for their kind technical assistance, Ontario Centre for the Characterization of Advanced Materials (OCCAM) of the University of Toronto and the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "7",

pages = "170--176",

journal = "Nature Energy",

issn = "2058-7546",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

number = "2",

}

Wang, X, Ou, P, Ozden, A, Hung, SF, Tam, J, Gabardo, CM, Howe, JY, Sisler, J, Bertens, K, García de Arquer, FP, Miao, RK, O’Brien, CP, Wang, Z, Abed, J, Rasouli, AS, Sun, M, Ip, AH, Sinton, D & Sargent, EH 2022, 'Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst', Nature Energy, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 170-176. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst

AU - Wang, Xue

AU - Ou, Pengfei

AU - Ozden, Adnan

AU - Hung, Sung Fu

AU - Tam, Jason

AU - Gabardo, Christine M.

AU - Howe, Jane Y.

AU - Sisler, Jared

AU - Bertens, Koen

AU - García de Arquer, F. Pelayo

AU - Miao, Rui Kai

AU - O’Brien, Colin P.

AU - Wang, Ziyun

AU - Abed, Jehad

AU - Rasouli, Armin Sedighian

AU - Sun, Mengjia

AU - Ip, Alexander H.

AU - Sinton, David

AU - Sargent, Edward H.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (number RGPIN-2017-06477, E.H.S.) and the Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence Program (number ORF-RE08-034, E.H.S.). DFT calculations were performed on the Niagara supercomputer at the SciNet HPC Consortium. We acknowledge the computational resources supported by SciNet, which is funded by the University of Toronto, the Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence Program, the Government of Ontario and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. D.S. acknowledges the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship. Synchrotron measurements were carried out at the BL-17C at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. We thank R. Wolowiec and D. Kopilovic for their kind technical assistance, Ontario Centre for the Characterization of Advanced Materials (OCCAM) of the University of Toronto and the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - The high-energy-density C3 fuel n-propanol is desired from CO2/CO electroreduction, as evidenced by propanol’s high market price per tonne (approximately US$ 1,400–1,600). However, CO electroreduction to n-propanol has shown low selectivity, limited production rates and poor stability. Here we report catalysts, identified using computational screening, that simultaneously facilitate multiple carbon–carbon coupling, stabilize C2 intermediates and promote CO adsorption, all leading to improved n-propanol electrosynthesis. Experimentally we construct the predicted optimal electrocatalyst based on silver–ruthenium co-doped copper. We achieve, at 300 mA cm−2, a high n-propanol Faradaic efficiency of 36% ± 3%, a C2+ Faradaic efficiency of 93% and single-pass CO conversion of 85%. The system exhibits 100 h stable n-propanol electrosynthesis. Technoeconomic analysis based on the performance of the pilot system projects profitability.

AB - The high-energy-density C3 fuel n-propanol is desired from CO2/CO electroreduction, as evidenced by propanol’s high market price per tonne (approximately US$ 1,400–1,600). However, CO electroreduction to n-propanol has shown low selectivity, limited production rates and poor stability. Here we report catalysts, identified using computational screening, that simultaneously facilitate multiple carbon–carbon coupling, stabilize C2 intermediates and promote CO adsorption, all leading to improved n-propanol electrosynthesis. Experimentally we construct the predicted optimal electrocatalyst based on silver–ruthenium co-doped copper. We achieve, at 300 mA cm−2, a high n-propanol Faradaic efficiency of 36% ± 3%, a C2+ Faradaic efficiency of 93% and single-pass CO conversion of 85%. The system exhibits 100 h stable n-propanol electrosynthesis. Technoeconomic analysis based on the performance of the pilot system projects profitability.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124572541&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85124572541&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7

DO - 10.1038/s41560-021-00967-7

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85124572541

SN - 2058-7546

VL - 7

SP - 170

EP - 176

JO - Nature Energy

JF - Nature Energy

IS - 2

ER -

Efficient electrosynthesis of n-propanol from carbon monoxide using a Ag–Ru–Cu catalyst

Abstract

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this