Imidazolium-Based Materials for CO2 Electroreduction
With the increasing use of fossil energy sources,the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is rising,leading to environmental challenges.However,the conversion of CO2 into high value-added chemicals through catalysis presents an opportunity to address these issues and create a new pathway for fuel synthesis,ultimately helping to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.Among various methods,the CO2 electroreduction reaction(CO2RR)using renewable clean energy has garnered significant attention due to its mild reaction conditions,controlled reactions progress,environmental friendliness,and numerous value-added products it can yield.In this context,imidazolium-based materials and their derivatives have emerged as promising candidates for CO2RR.These materials have a strong affinity for CO2 and find applications as both electrolytes and electrocatalysts in CO2RR systems.So one of their key advantages,especially Im-ILs,is their ability to enrich CO2 in catalytic systems,effectively preventing the undesired hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and enhancing the selectivity towards CO2RR products.Understanding the interaction mechanism between imidazolium-based ionic liquids(Im-ILs)and CO2 molecules under electrocatalytic conditions is crucial for gaining deeper insights into why the addition of Im-ILs can improve CO2RR performance from a molecular perspective.Furthermore,Im-ILs can serve as both surface modifier groups and trapping agents in heterogeneous electrocatalysts,which can significantly alter the surface environment and hydrophobicity of the catalysts,leading to improved CO2RR.Notably,the imidazolium groups present in Lehn-type and metal-porphyrin molecular catalysts have been found to have an impact on the performance of these catalysts in CO2RR.Lastly,N-heterocyclic carbene(NHC)-based electrocatalysts,as one of the active forms of imidazolium interaction with CO2,have demonstrated exceptional performance.When introduced into porous heterogeneous catalysts and molecular catalysts,NHC-based electrocatalysts stabilize metal nanoparticles and enhance the ability to capture CO2,thus promoting CO2RR activity.In summary,the utilization of imidazolium-based materials in CO2RR holds great promise for advancing the field of CO2 conversion and achieving more sustainable and efficient processes for high-value chemical synthesis.
CO2 electroreductionIonic liquidsImidazoliumN-heterocyclic carbeneMetal nanoparticles