Strategies for Improving The Microenvironment in Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction Using Nanostructured Catalysts

The electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) represents a promising approach toward the carbon-neutral generation of hydrocarbons. However, despite intense research efforts, the need remains to increase selectivity and activity for electrocatalysts for CO₂RR. In order to accomplish these goals, there has been increasing interest in optimizing the microenvironment to boost the activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic sites for CO₂ conversion. However, the functional understanding of how to tune the microenvironment is still under development.

This presentation discusses several strategies that are being pursued in my research group to illustrate design principles to optimize the microenvironment for CO₂ conversion, which include:

(1) Nanostructured model systems to illustrate control of diffusion via engineering electrode structure at micro- and nano-length scales

(2) Nanostructured model systems to harness localization of tandem catalysts.

This talk will also share perspectives about harnessing nanoscale materials to control and enhance the microenvironment in order to enhance CO₂ conversion.