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Stable CO2 electroreduction to CH4 at an engineering‐relevant scale enabled by confined Cu nanoclusters.

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Title: Stable CO2 electroreduction to CH4 at an engineering‐relevant scale enabled by confined Cu nanoclusters.
Authors: Wang, Zhaolong1,2 (AUTHOR), Wang, Tao1 (AUTHOR), Yi, Siyu1 (AUTHOR), Yi, Jianjian3 (AUTHOR), Mo, Zhao1 (AUTHOR), Zhu, Xingwang3 (AUTHOR), Ji, Mengxia1 (AUTHOR), Yang, Jinman1 (AUTHOR) jmyang@ujs.edu.cn, Xu, Hui1,4 (AUTHOR) xh@ujs.edu.cn, She, Xiaojie1,2,4 (AUTHOR) xiaojieshe@ujs.edu.cn
Source: AIChE Journal. Jun2026, Vol. 72 Issue 6, p1-11. 11p.
Subjects: Copper clusters, Electrocatalysis, Electrode efficiency, Continuous flow reactors, Energy storage, Methanation, Durability
Abstract: Electrocatalytic CO2 methanation is a promising strategy for renewable energy storage but remains limited by low selectivity and insufficient stability under industrially relevant conditions. Here, a confined Cu atom‐cluster catalyst anchored on a nitrogen‐rich carbon framework (Cu AC/NC) is reported, synthesized via a scalable supramolecular precursor strategy that precisely controls Cu aggregation at the atomic‐cluster scale. In a flow‐cell configuration, Cu AC/NC achieves a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of ~70% with a partial current density of 316.1 mA cm−2. In situ spectroscopic analyses reveal that cluster confinement tailors the local reaction microenvironment, facilitating *CO protonation and deep hydrogenation of CO2. Deactivation mechanisms in alkaline and acidic electrolytes, as well as under pulsed electrolysis, are systematically examined. By balancing activity and stability, a pure‐H2O‐fed system is identified, enabling stable, carbonate‐free operation in scalable membrane electrode assemblies while sustaining methane production at engineering‐relevant current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:Electrocatalytic CO2 methanation is a promising strategy for renewable energy storage but remains limited by low selectivity and insufficient stability under industrially relevant conditions. Here, a confined Cu atom‐cluster catalyst anchored on a nitrogen‐rich carbon framework (Cu AC/NC) is reported, synthesized via a scalable supramolecular precursor strategy that precisely controls Cu aggregation at the atomic‐cluster scale. In a flow‐cell configuration, Cu AC/NC achieves a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of ~70% with a partial current density of 316.1 mA cm−2. In situ spectroscopic analyses reveal that cluster confinement tailors the local reaction microenvironment, facilitating *CO protonation and deep hydrogenation of CO2. Deactivation mechanisms in alkaline and acidic electrolytes, as well as under pulsed electrolysis, are systematically examined. By balancing activity and stability, a pure‐H2O‐fed system is identified, enabling stable, carbonate‐free operation in scalable membrane electrode assemblies while sustaining methane production at engineering‐relevant current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00011541
DOI:10.1002/aic.70330