The widespread utilization of renewable energy will require energy dense and cost-effective methods for storage. This challenge could be met by using renewable electricity to drive the reduction of carbon dioxide to energy dense carbonaceous fuels. However, many fuels are accessible over a narrow range in electrochemical potential, requiring general design principles for controlling kinetic branching in these reactions. By combining electrochemical kinetic studies and in situ spectroscopies, we have uncovered the central role of differential PCET mechanisms in defining the selectivity of CO2 and CO activation reactions at electrode surfaces. We have applied this mechanistic understanding to systematically tune the product distribution in CO2-to-fuels catalysis. Our latest findings in this area will be discussed.

PCET branch-points in CO2-to-fuels catalysis

255th National Meeting (2018)

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