Yusaku F. Nishimura

Bio: Yusaku F. Nishimura is an academic researcher from Stanford University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Bimetallic strip. The author has co-authored 1 publications. Previous affiliations of Yusaku F. Nishimura include SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Guiding the Catalytic Properties of Copper for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction by Metal Atom Decoration.

Abstract: Tuning bimetallic effects is a promising strategy to guide catalytic properties. However, the nature of these effects can be difficult to assess and compare due to the convolution with other factors such as the catalyst surface structure and morphology and differences in testing environments. Here, we investigate the impact of atomic-scale bimetallic effects on the electrochemical CO2 reduction performance of Cu-based catalysts by leveraging a systematic approach that unifies protocols for materials synthesis and testing and enables accurate comparisons of intrinsic catalytic activity and selectivity. We used the same physical vapor deposition method to epitaxially grow Cu(100) films decorated with a small amount of noble or base metal atoms and a combination of experimental characterization and first-principles calculations to evaluate their physicochemical and catalytic properties. The results indicate that the metal atoms segregate to under-coordinated Cu sites during physical vapor deposition, suppressing CO reduction to oxygenates and hydrocarbons and promoting competing pathways to CO, formate, and hydrogen. Leveraging these insights, we rationalize bimetallic design principles to improve catalytic selectivity for CO2 reduction to CO, formate, oxygenates, or hydrocarbons. Our study provides one of the most extensive studies on Cu bimetallics for CO2 reduction, establishing a systematic approach that is broadly applicable to research in catalyst discovery.

Progress in Regulating Electronic Structure Strategies on Cu-Based Bimetallic Catalysts for CO2 Reduction Reaction

Abstract: To address the ever-increasing CO 2 concentration problem in the atmospheric air arisen by massive consumption of fossil fuels, electrocatalytic technologies that reduce CO 2 to generate high value-added products have been gaining increasing interest. Cu-based CO 2 reduction catalysts have attracted widespread attention owing to their capability of generating C 1 and C 2+ products. However, Cu-based catalysts are highly challenged by their low product selectivity. Recently, Cu-based bimetallic catalysts have been found the unique catalytical activity and selectivity in CO 2 reduction reactions (CO 2 RR). The incorporation of other metals can change the electronic circumstance of Cu-based catalysts, promoting the adsorption ability of the intermediate products and consequently leading to high selectivity. In this minireview, we intend to summarize recent advances of Cu-based bimetallic catalysts in producing C 1 and C 2+ products, involving designing heterostructure, alloy, defects and surface modification engineering. We pay special attention to the regulation of electronic structure of the composite catalysts, as well as insights into the relationship between electronic property and catalytical performance for Cu-based bimetallic catalysts. This article analyzed the influence of the electronic structure of materials on the catalytic performance. Focusing on the application of four methods of Heterostructure Engineering, Alloy Engineering, Defect design Engineering and Surface modification Engineering to Cu-based bimetallic materials, the advantages of electronic regulation of materials and catalyzing CO 2 to generate high-value chemicals.

Cu-based bimetallic catalysts for CO2 reduction reaction

Abstract: Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is one of the effective means to realize CO2 resource utilization. Among the high-efficiency metal-based catalysts, Cu is a star material profiting from its ability for CO2 reduction into valuable hydrocarbon products. However, due to the difficulty in activating CO2 and regulating intermediate adsorption/desorption properties, the CO2RR activity and selectivity of Cu-based catalysts still cannot meet the requirements of industrial applications. The design of Cu-based bimetallic catalysts is a potential strategy because the introduction of the second metal can well promote the activation of CO2 and break the linear scaling relationship in intermediate adsorption/desorption. In this review, the synergistic enhancements of Cu-based bimetals on CO2 activation and intermediate adsorption/desorption are analyzed in detail, including the advantages caused by the morphology of Cu-based bimetallic catalysts, the local electric field effect induced by the special nanoneedle structure, the interface engineering (strain effect, atomic arrangement, interface regulation), and other particular effects (electronic effect and tandem effect). Finally, the challenges and perspectives on the development of Cu-based bimetallic catalysts for CO2 reduction are proposed.

Atomic Layer Infiltration Enabled Cu Coordination Environment Construction for Enhanced Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Selectivity: Case Study of a Cu Metal–Organic Framework

Abstract: Cu-based materials are promising catalysts for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, they frequently have a low Faradaic efficiency (FE) and selectivity for a specific single product. Particularly, the precise construction of a Cu microenvironment is a great challenge in the design and fabrication of excellent Cu-based CO2RR catalysts. In order to systematically regulate the Cu metal site environment, the classic HKUST-1 containing paddle-wheel Cu coordination nodes was used as a template and modified with the atomic layer infiltration (ALI) technique in this work. A detailed structural analysis shows that a uniform distribution of Zn–O–Zn sites is introduced into HKUST-1 and linked to neighboring Cu nodes without changing the original morphology and structure. In comparison with pristine HKUST-1, the FE for CO increases from 20–30% to 70–80% for the ALI-modified HKUST-1 within the tested overpotential range. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations prove that the modification with Zn–O–Zn by ALI enhances the adsorption enthalpy of CO2 and strengthens the bonding interaction between the COOH* intermediate and the adsorption center, thereby reducing the whole reaction barrier and accelerating CO formation. The proposed ALI technique elucidates the reliance of CO2RR selectivity on the Cu microenvironment and provides a platform for regulating the coordination environments of Cu or other metal-based electrocatalysts to facilitate the high selectivity of CO2RR in the future.

Current state of copper-based bimetallic materials for electrochemical CO2 reduction: a review

Abstract: The increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has caused profound environmental issues such as global warming. The use of CO2 as a feedstock to replace traditional fossil sources holds great promise to reduce CO2 emissions. The electrochemical conversion of CO2 has attracted much attention because it can be powered by renewable sources such as solar energy. In this review article, we provide insight into the important parameters when studying CO2RR and give a comprehensive review on the description of synthesis methods with electrocatalytic CO2 reduction over bimetallic copper-based materials. Due to the important bibliographic data on Cu bimetallic materials, we have limited this review to Sn, In, Pd, Zn and Ag. At the end of this review, challenges and perspectives for further upgrading have been included to briefly highlight the important future considerations of this rapidly growing technology.