Abstract
The electroreduction of carbon dioxide is one way of converting it into higher value-added chemical compounds. In this context, the overriding criterion in the selection of electrode materials for this reaction is their propensity to produce compounds selectively. One approach being considered to achieve high selectivity is the use of " isolated sites " electrodes featuring a single type of active site. Among these, nitrogen-doped carbon materials with isolated metal sites (M-NC), originally developed for oxygen reduction in fuel cells, have recently demonstrated exceptional activity and selectivity for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide [1]. In particular, our recent work has demonstrated a paradigm shift in the generation of multi-carbon products for the electroreduction of carbon dioxide, such as ethanol. Whereas only products composed of a single carbon atom (carbon monoxide, formic acid) had been observed up to now with all electrode materials other than metallic copper, we have demonstrated that the use of M-NC materials could constitute a low-cost alternative, moreover offering high selectivity.
This seminar will focus on these new materials, placing them in the context of electrocatalysis and detailing our work in the field of carbon dioxide reduction.
