Wettability control in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: Effects, modulations and mechanisms

Ruichen Lu, Xianze Zhang, Haixin Shi, Zipeng Zhao, Mufan Li*, Xueqiang Zhang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Wettability control at the electrolyte/electrode interface represents a critical factor governing the fundamental mechanisms of reaction pathways and kinetics in practical electrocatalysis. Under an applied electrical field, a variety of physicochemical events take place at the electrolyte/electrode interface consisting of gas diffusion layers (GDL) and electrical double layers (EDL), including the transportation of kinetically relevant species, the dynamic desorption/adsorption of surface species and surface reactions. Here, using CO2 electrocatalytic reduction (CO2ER) as a model system, we review the fundamentals of wettability, existing and emerging means for the modulation and characterization of wettability, a molecular-level understanding of the effect of wettability at the electrolyte/electrode interface, followed by critically reviewing existing issues and future prospects of wettability control in general electrocatalysis. The review aims to systematically construct a physicochemical model of the liquid/solid interface under the influence of wettability, examining its effect on CO2ER and general electrocatalytic systems, thereby providing insights for subsequent electrocatalytic reactions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number123293
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume341
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2024

Keywords

  • Electrocatalytic CO reduction (COER)
  • Electrolyte/electrode interface
  • Electron-double layer (EDL)
  • Mass transport
  • Wettability

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Lu, R., Zhang, X., Shi, H., Zhao, Z., Li, M., & Zhang, X. (2024). Wettability control in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: Effects, modulations and mechanisms. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 341, Article 123293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123293