Reduction of CO2 to chemicals and Fuels: Thermocatalysis versus electrocatalysis

Reduction of CO2 to chemicals and Fuels: Thermocatalysis versus electrocatalysis

Chemical Engineering Journal

10.1016/j.cej.2023.145033

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.145033

Jiajian Gao, Simon Choo Sze Shiong, Yan Liu

28 July 2023

Gao, J., Choo Sze Shiong, S., Liu, Y. (2023). Reduction of CO2 to chemicals and Fuels: Thermocatalysis versus electrocatalysis. Chemical Engineering Journal, 472, 145033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.145033

Reducing carbon dioxide to valuable chemicals and fuels such as formic acid, carbon monoxide, methanol, methane, ethylene, ethanol, and higher alcohol products by renewable hydrogen via thermocatalysis or by renewable electricity via electrocatalysis provides an attractive and sustainable way for achieving carbon abatement and addressing the climate change challenge. The thermocatalytic pathway is easy to scale up and realize industrial-scale applications, but some of the reactions are limited by kinetics, and / or thermodynamics equilibrium. In contrast, the electrocatalytic approach is less mature but has advantages, including low temperature and low pressure, using water as a hydrogen source, and no limitation from thermodynamic equilibrium. However, the electrocatalysis process requires the development of more effective and stable electrocatalysts. In this review, the latest progress in converting CO2 to various chemicals or fuels via thermocatalysis and electrocatalysis is summarized and compared with an emphasis on catalysts and reaction mechanisms. The similarity and differences between thermocatalysts and electrocatalysts as well as the thermocatalytic process and electrocatalytic process are discussed in detail. The combination of strength between thermocatalysis and electrocatalysis is also introduced and discussed. Future research directions of the CO2 conversion process are outlooked.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

This research / project is supported by the Singapore Energy Center - Core Project
Grant Reference no. : SgEC-Core2021-0048

This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - Career Development Fund
Grant Reference no. : C210812029

This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - Central Research Fund
Grant Reference no. : SC22/22-11571U

https://oar.a-star.edu.sg/communities-collections/articles/20689

1385-8947

Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment