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ELECTROCATALYSIS

Two atoms are better than one

Nature Synthesis volume 1, pages 676–677 (2022)Cite this article

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Dual-atom catalysts show potential for complex reactions, but their controllable preparation is challenging. A method to transform a Ni nanoparticle into a Ni2N6 dual-atom structure on a carbon support yields a catalyst with precisely controlled atomic site distances, giving excellent performance for CO2 electroreduction.

The combustion of fossil fuels to meet the global energy demand has resulted in uncertainty in energy supplies and increased CO2 emissions, causing environmental damage. The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an opportunity to close the carbon cycle and store renewable energy in chemical bonds. For the multi-intermediate CO2RR, catalysts play an essential role in accelerating reaction kinetics and steering product selectivity1. Amongst various products, CO is an important building block for the chemicals industry, for example in the Fischer–Tropsch reaction and the hydroformylation reaction2.

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Fig. 1: Dual nickel catalysts for the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO.

panel c was reproduced from ref. 8, Springer Nature Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Shuguang Wang, Mingchuan Luo & Shaojun Guo

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  1. Shuguang Wang
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  2. Mingchuan Luo
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  3. Shaojun Guo
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Correspondence to Shaojun Guo.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Wang, S., Luo, M. & Guo, S. Two atoms are better than one. Nat. Synth 1, 676–677 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-022-00140-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-022-00140-2

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