Electrochemical cells and systems for carbon dioxide hydrogenation utilizing tunable catalysts

Abstract

An electrochemical cell comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode comprising a tunable catalyst formulated to selectively hydrogenate carbon dioxide, and an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The tunable catalyst comprising at least one metal comprising a size within a range of from a single atom to about 999 nanometers and formulated to produce one or more specific carbonaceous product. Also disclosed is an electrochemical cell comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode comprising a tunable catalyst formulated to selectively hydrogenate carbon dioxide, and an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The tunable catalyst comprising a transition metal catalyst dispersed and supported on an oxide of at least one lanthanide element. Further disclosed is a carbon dioxide hydrogenation system.

1 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a positive electrode;   a negative electrode comprising a tunable catalyst formulated to selectively hydrogenate carbon dioxide, the tunable catalyst comprising at least one metal comprising a size within a range of from a single atom to about 999 nanometers and formulated to produce one or more specific carbonaceous product; and   an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the tunable catalyst comprises a Sm 2 O 3 -doped CeO 2  supported iridium catalyst. 
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal comprises single atoms, from about 5 iridium atoms to about 20 iridium atoms, or a particle size ranging from about 0.1 nm to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         4 . A carbon dioxide hydrogenation system, comprising:
 a hydrogen source;   a carbon dioxide source;   one or more electrochemical apparatus in fluid communication with the hydrogen source and the carbon dioxide source and comprising:
 a housing structure configured and positioned to receive a hydrogen stream from the hydrogen source and to receive a carbon dioxide stream from the carbon dioxide source; and 
 one or more electrochemical cells within the housing structure and comprising:
 a positive electrode and a negative electrode within the housing structure; and 
 an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, 
 
 the negative electrode comprising a tunable catalyst and the tunable catalyst comprising a size within a range of from a single atom to about 999 nanometers and formulated to selectively produce one or more carbon-containing compounds. 
   
     
     
         5 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst is formulated to selectively produce carbon monoxide or methane. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst is formulated to operate at a temperature in a range of from about 300° C. to about 500° C. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst is formulated to selectively produce a product stream consisting essentially of carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst is formulated to selectively produce a product stream consisting essentially of methane. 
     
     
         9 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst is formulated to selectively produce carbon monoxide, the tunable catalyst comprising at least one metal dispersed therein as single metal atom or as nanoclusters comprising from about 2 metal atoms to about 100 metal atoms. 
     
     
         10 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst is formulated to selectively produce methane, the tunable catalyst comprising at least one metal dispersed therein as nanoparticles having sizes from about 1 nm to about 999 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable catalyst comprises at least one transition metal catalyst supported on an oxide of at least one lanthanide element, the oxide of at least one lanthanide element comprising an oxide of a first lanthanide element and a dopant including a second lanthanide element, the first lanthanide element different from the second lanthanide element. 
     
     
         12 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , further comprising a heating apparatus configured to heat at least a portion of the one or more electrochemical cells to a temperature within a range of from about 150° C. to about 650° C. 
     
     
         13 . The carbon dioxide hydrogenation system of  claim 4 , wherein the housing structure comprising a first region and a second region separated from the first region by the one or more electrochemical cells,
 the first region of the housing structure configured and positioned to receive the hydrogen stream,   the second region of the housing structure configured and positioned to receive the carbon dioxide stream, the second region of the housing structure substantially free of hydrogen from the hydrogen source.   
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the tunable catalyst comprises a transition metal catalyst supported on an oxide of at least one lanthanide element. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the oxide of at least one lanthanide element comprises an oxide of a first lanthanide element and a dopant including a second lanthanide element, the first lanthanide element different from the second lanthanide element. 
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the first lanthanide element comprises cerium and the second lanthanide element comprises samarium. 
     
     
         17 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a positive electrode;   a negative electrode comprising a tunable catalyst formulated to selectively hydrogenate carbon dioxide, the tunable catalyst comprising a transition metal catalyst dispersed on an oxide of at least one lanthanide element; and   an electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.   
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 17 , wherein the tunable catalyst comprises an iridium catalyst dispersed on a cerium oxide. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 17 , wherein the tunable catalyst comprises an iridium catalyst dispersed on a cerium oxide doped with samarium. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 17 , wherein the transition metal catalyst exhibits a particle size of from about 1 angstrom to about 999 nanometers.