Regulation of functional groups on graphene quantum dots directs selective CO2 to CH4 conversion

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25640-1
• Publication Date: 2021-09-06T10:04:08Z
• Authors: Tianyu Zhang; Weitao Li; Kai Huang; Huazhang Guo; Zhengyuan Li; Yanbo Fang; Ram Manohar Yadav; Vesselin Shanov; Pulickel M. Ajayan; Liang Wang; Cheng Lian; Jingjie Wu
• Keywords: Science; Q; 01 natural sciences; Article; 0104 chemical sciences

Abstract A catalyst system with dedicated selectivity toward a single hydrocarbon or oxygenate product is essential to enable the industrial application of electrochemical conversion CO 2 high-value chemicals. Cu only known metal that can convert high-order hydrocarbons and oxygenates. However, Cu-based catalysts suffer from diverse selectivity. Here, we report functionalized graphene quantum dots direct CH 4 simultaneous high production rate. The electron-donating groups facilitate yield electro-reduction while electron-withdrawing suppress electro-reduction. on group positively correlated ability content group. by either –OH –NH functional could achieve Faradaic efficiency 70.0% for at −200 mA cm −2 partial current density . superior group- over group-functionalized possibly originates maintenance higher charge potential active sites (neighboring C N) interaction between key intermediates. This work provides insight into design carbon molecular scale