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

Department of Applied Chemistry

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

25 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
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

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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{e73e286044574b56bbcb0d8fc2e022a2,

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 = "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",

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.

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

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

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this