Nickel-nitrogen-carbon (Ni-N-C) electrocatalysts toward CO2
electroreduction: Advances, optimizations, challenges and prospects
Abstract
Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into high energy-density fuels and
value-added chemicals under mild conditions can promote the sustainable
cycle of carbon and decrease current energy and environmental problems.
Constructing electrocatalyst with high activity, selectivity, stability
and low cost is really matter to realize industrial application of
electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (ECR). Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C)
electrocatalysts, especially Ni-N-C, display excellent performance, such
as nearly 100% CO selectivity, high current density, outstanding
tolerance, etc., which is considered to possess broad application
prospects. Based on the current research status, starting from the
mechanism of ECR and the existence form of Ni active species, the latest
research progress of Ni-N-C electrocatalysts in CO2 electroreduction is
systematically summarized. An overview is emphatically interpreted on
the regulatory strategies for activity optimization over Ni-N-C,
including N coordination modulation, vacancy defects construction,
morphology design, surface modification, heteroatom activation,
bimetallic cooperation. Finally, some urgent problems and future
prospects on designing Ni-N-C catalyst for ECR are discussed. This
review aims to provide the guidance for the design and development of
Ni-N-C catalyst with practical application.