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Nutrient diffusion-inspired catalysts with self-reinforced concentration gradient for sustainable electroreduction of dilute CO2

Author

Listed:
  • Jialei Chen

    (Nankai University)

  • Tiantian Lu

    (Nankai University)

  • Xuelong Liao

    (Nankai University)

  • Shan Chen

    (Nankai University)

  • Youzeng Li

    (Nankai University)

  • Yue Wang

    (Nankai University)

  • Runyu Lv

    (Nankai University)

  • Wenyue Cui

    (Nankai University)

  • Wenlong Lan

    (Nankai University)

  • Wei Wang

    (Nankai University)

  • Lixin Cao

    (Nankai University)

  • Zhuo Chen

    (Nankai University)

  • Zhuang Zhao

    (Nankai University)

  • Jinhan Li

    (Nankai University)

  • Wei Shi

    (Nankai University)

  • Sheng Zhang

    (Tianjin University
    Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations)

  • Huan Wang

    (Nankai University
    Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations
    Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences)

Abstract

The electrocatalysis of flue gas into CO in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) provides a sustainable route for realizing practical CO2 electrolysis technology but suffers from restricted CO2 mass transport due to thick gas boundary layer (GBL) and weak concentration gradient. Inspired by nutrient diffusion mechanism in plant, we introduce the concept of self-reinforced CO2 concentration gradient, which is realized via porous carbon nanosheets (PC) as soil for enriching CO2 and single-atomic Ni-doped carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) as rhizome for electro-catalyzing CO2. A combined experimental and simulation study reveals optimal length of Ni-CNTs on PC reduces the GBL thickness and spontaneously enhances CO2 concentration gradient, synergistically breaking the limitation of CO2 transport. Consequently, the CO Faradaic efficiency attains >90% with varying CO2 concentration of 4-15 vol. % CO2 in MEA. Further through incorporation of an O2-adsorption packed column before MEA, we realize the stable and selective conversion of O2-containing flue gas into CO.

Suggested Citation

  • Jialei Chen & Tiantian Lu & Xuelong Liao & Shan Chen & Youzeng Li & Yue Wang & Runyu Lv & Wenyue Cui & Wenlong Lan & Wei Wang & Lixin Cao & Zhuo Chen & Zhuang Zhao & Jinhan Li & Wei Shi & Sheng Zhang , 2025. "Nutrient diffusion-inspired catalysts with self-reinforced concentration gradient for sustainable electroreduction of dilute CO2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62240-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62240-9
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