Molecular Inhibition for Selective CO 2 Conversion

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 61; no. 32
• Main Authors: Creissen, Charles E., Rivera de la Cruz, José Guillermo, Karapinar, Dilan, Taverna, Dario, Schreiber, Moritz W., Fontecave, Marc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley-VCH Verlag 08-08-2022
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Electrocatalysis; Molecular Modification; Inhibition; Electrocatalysis Molecular Modification Heterogeneous Catalysis Carbon Dioxide Inhibition; Carbon Dioxide; Heterogeneous Catalysis
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202206279

Electrochemical CO
2
reduction presents a sustainable route to the production of chemicals and fuels. Achieving a narrow product distribution with heterogeneous Cu catalysts is challenging and conventional material modifications offer limited control over selectivity. Here, we show that surface‐immobilised molecular species can act as inhibitors for specific carbon products to provide rational control over product distributions. Combined experimental and computational results showed that anchoring of a thiol‐functionalised pyridine on Cu destabilises a surface‐bound reaction intermediate to energetically block a CO‐producing pathway, thereby favouring formate production. The nitrogen atom was shown to be essential to the inhibition mechanism. The ability of molecules to control selectivity through inhibition of specific reaction pathways offers a unique approach to rationally modify heterogeneous catalysts.