Heng-Pan Yang

Morphology-controlled CuO nanoparticles for electroreduction of CO2 to ethanol

CuO nanoparticles with five morphologies were synthesized in large quantities using a simple method. They were in situ reduced to metallic Cu for the electroreduction of CO2. Alcohols with excellent selectivity for ethanol were obtained. The specific morphology was demonstrated to be more electrocatalytically active than others by multiple methods.

Organically doped palladium: a highly efficient catalyst for electroreduction of CO2 to methanol

A [PYD]@Pd composite was prepared by the entrapment of a pyridine derivative within metallic palladium. Metallic Pd acts as a heterogeneous support and a pyridine ring served as an active site for electroreduction of CO2, and no additional catalyst was needed in the electrolyte. 35% Faradaic efficiency of methanol was obtained at only −0.6 V vs. SCE. Moreover, [PYD]@Pd has remarkable stability and reusability.

Selective electrochemical reduction of CO2 to different alcohol products by an organically doped alloy catalyst

A highly stable and recyclable catalyst, [PYD]@Cu–Pt, was demonstrated to have dual activity for electrochemical reduction of CO2 in aqueous solution. Different alcohol products could be obtained by simply switching the working potential. Through contrast experiments, a feasible reaction pathway was proposed to explain this dual activity.

Entrapment of a pyridine derivative within a copper–palladium alloy: a bifunctional catalyst for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to alcohols with excellent selectivity and reusability

A novel bifunctional catalyst, [PYD]@Cu–Pd composite, was synthesized for the first time and used as a cathode for electrochemical reduction of CO2. Methanol with 26% and ethanol with 12% Faradaic efficiency were obtained at the same [PYD]@Cu–Pd cathode using different potentials. Under both conditions, the [PYD]@Cu–Pd cathode shows remarkable stability and reusability.

Electrosynthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides on a reusable copper nanoparticle cathode

A highly stable and reusable Cu NP cathode was prepared by a simple method and used for the electrosynthesis of cyclic carbonates by electroreduction of CO2 in the presence of epoxides under mild conditions. No added metal catalyst is required and the yields vary from moderate to very good. Furthermore, the activity of the cathode was shown to depend on the size of the Cu NPs.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl benzoylformate on an Ag electrode electrosorbed with cinchonine

Cinchonine was demonstrated to be adsorbed on electrodeposited Ag for enantioselective hydrogenation. Moderate ee and excellent selectivity was obtained under mild conditions. The adsorption amount of cinchonine on the electrode was proved to be related to ee by HPLC.