Promoting electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to formate via sulfur-boosting water activation on indium surfaces

一般认为，H2O还原析氢反应是CO2还原反应的竞争反应，若促进H2O活化将降低CO2还原反应的法拉第效率。因此，基于该认识设计出的高CO2还原法拉第效率的催化剂常常活性低。王野课题组打破这种认识，提出H2O分子活化在CO2还原中起着重要的作用，成功合成出硫修饰In催化剂来活化H2O分子而促进CO2还原制甲酸的新方法，该催化剂在非常宽的电流密度范围内（25~100 mA cm-2），均可以维持85%以上的甲酸法拉第效率。将硫拓展至硒和碲等其它硫族元素以及将金属铟拓展至铋和锡等其它p区金属，均实现很好的促进效果，表明通过促进水的活化来提高CO2电催化还原性能具有普适性。该工作为理性设计高效的CO2还原电催化剂提供了新策略。 该研究工作实验部分主要由王野、张庆红教授指导，能源材料化学协同创新中心iChEM2016级博士生马文超、固体表面物理化学国家重点实验室高级工程师谢顺吉（共同第一作者）完成；理论计算部分由吴德印教授指导，2015级博士生张霞光（共同第一作者）完成。醇醚酯国家工程实验室高级工程师康金灿参与了部分实验表征。上海光源姜政教授和孙凡飞博士为同步辐射表征提供了支持。【Abstract】Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to fuels and chemicals is one of the most attractive routes for CO2 utilization. Current catalysts suffer from low faradaic efficiency of a CO2-reduction product at high current density (or reaction rate). Here, we report that a sulfur-doped indium catalyst exhibits high faradaic efficiency of formate (>85%) in a broad range of current density (25–100 mA cm−2) for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous media. The formation rate of formate reaches 1449 μmol h−1 cm−2 with 93% faradaic efficiency, the highest value reported to date. Our studies suggest that sulfur accelerates CO2 reduction by a unique mechanism. Sulfur enhances the activation of water, forming hydrogen species that can readily react with CO2 to produce formate. The promoting effect of chalcogen modifiers can be extended to other metal catalysts. This work offers a simple and useful strategy for designing both active and selective electrocatalysts for CO2This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2017YFB0602201), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21690082, 91545203, and 21503176). We thank staff at the BL14W1 beamline of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facilities (SSRF) for assistance with the EXAFS measurements. 研究工作得到科技部重点研发计划（批准号：2017YFB0602201）和国家自然科学基金（批准号：21690082、91545203、21503176）等项目的资助

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to ethylene and ethanol through hydrogen-assisted C-C coupling over fluorine-modified copper

精准控制C1分子C-C偶联合成特定C2+化合物是C1化学中极具挑战性的难题。由于C2+化合物(如乙烯和乙醇)在化工和能源领域具有重要用途，将CO2直接转化为C2+产物极具吸引力。发展高效催化剂，实现高电流密度、高C2+选择性、高稳定性的“三高”性能，是推进电催化还原CO2走向实际应用的关键。研究团队针对电催化还原CO2中高CO2还原法拉第效率的催化剂常常活性低的问题，提出了适当提高催化剂活化水的能力对增加CO2还原活性的重要性，发展出氢助碳碳偶联(hydrogen-assisted C-C coupling)的新策略，在氟修饰的铜(F-Cu)催化剂上实现了CO2电催化还原制乙烯和乙醇的新突破。该研究工作实验部分主要由王野、张庆红教授指导，能源材料协同创新中心iChEM2016级博士生马文超、固体表面物理化学国家重点实验室高级工程师谢顺吉(共同第一作者)完成；理论计算部分由程俊教授指导，2017级硕士生刘彤彤(共同第一作者)、2016级博士生樊祺源完成。叶进裕博士为原位红外测试提供了支持。上海光源姜政研究员、孙凡飞博士、杨若欧为同步辐射表征提供了支持。 这是投稿的最终版本，正式出版的论文版本请访问官方链接（https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-020-0450-0）。Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into multi-carbon (C2+) products is a highly attractive route for CO2 utilization. However, the yield of C2+ products remains low because of the limited C2+ selectivity at high CO2 conversion rate. Here, we report a fluorine-modified copper catalyst that exhibits an ultrahigh current density of 1.6 A cm−2 at C2+ (mainly ethylene and ethanol) Faradaic efficiency of 80% for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in a flow cell. The C2-4 selectivity reaches 85.8% at a single-pass yield of 16.5%. We show a hydrogen-assisted C−C coupling mechanism between adsorbed formyl (CHO) intermediates for C2+ formation. Fluorine enhances water activation, CO adsorption and hydrogenation of adsorbed CO to CHO intermediate that can readily undergo coupling. Our findings offer an opportunity to design highly active and selective CO2 electroreduction catalysts with potential for practical applicationThis work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2017YFB0602201), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21690082, 91545203, 21503176 and 21802110), We thank staffs at the BL14W1 beamline of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facilities (SSRF) for assistance with the EXAFS measurements.研究工作得到科技部重点研发计划（批准号：2017YFB0602201）和国家自然科学基金（批准号：21690082、91545203、21503176、21802110）项目的资助

Spatial-temporal distribution characteristics and risk assessment of heavy metals in a river flowing into the bay in a typical gold mining area

In order to study the pollution characteristics of heavy metals in Jiehe River in a typical gold mining area and propose targeted remediation measures,four sampling surveys were conducted from 2014 to 2016 to analyze the content,occurrence forms and spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of four heavy metals (Zn,As,Cd and Pb) in river water and surface sediments. The pollution levels and ecological risks of the surface sediments were evaluated using the Nemero comprehensive pollution index method and risk assessment coding method. Results showed that the concentrations of Zn,As and Cd of some sampling sites exceeded the national standards of surface water environment quality standard Ⅲ class limits,and Pb concentrations were lower than the limits. Three main pollution sources were identified along the Jiehe river,including the upstream chemical plant,the midstream Guoda Metallurgical Group tailings pond and the Jinchiling gold mine. The water quality of the Jiehe river has not been improved after the river regulation. Therefore,it is necessary to take corresponding measures to repair the three main pollution sources. The contents of Zn,As,Cd and Pb in the sediments were 218-5878,17-4177,1-67 and 35-974 mg·kg~(-1), respectively. The content of weak acid extracted form of Zn and Cd were above 60%,while the speciation distributions of As and Pb varies greatly along the river,mainly in reducible and residual forms. The results of pollution level and risk assessment showed that the sediments in the 11 sampling sites were all heavily polluted. Among the four heavy metals,Zn and Cd have the highest risk level, in 4 sample points Zn and Cd at an extremely high risk level,and As and Pb at a low risk level in most of the sample points. Therefore,pollution remediation should be focused on Zn and Cd pollution

JUNO Sensitivity on Proton Decay p→νˉK+p\to \bar\nu K^+ Searches

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a large liquid scintillator detector designed to explore many topics in fundamental physics. In this paper, the potential on searching for proton decay in $p\to \bar\nu K^+$ mode with JUNO is investigated.The kaon and its decay particles feature a clear three-fold coincidence signature that results in a high efficiency for identification. Moreover, the excellent energy resolution of JUNO permits to suppress the sizable background caused by other delayed signals. Based on these advantages, the detection efficiency for the proton decay via $p\to \bar\nu K^+$ is 36.9% with a background level of 0.2 events after 10 years of data taking. The estimated sensitivity based on 200 kton-years exposure is $9.6 \times 10^{33}$ years, competitive with the current best limits on the proton lifetime in this channel

JUNO sensitivity on proton decay p → ν K + searches*

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a large liquid scintillator detector designed to explore many topics in fundamental physics. In this study, the potential of searching for proton decay in the $p\to \bar{\nu} K^+$ mode with JUNO is investigated. The kaon and its decay particles feature a clear three-fold coincidence signature that results in a high efficiency for identification. Moreover, the excellent energy resolution of JUNO permits suppression of the sizable background caused by other delayed signals. Based on these advantages, the detection efficiency for the proton decay via $p\to \bar{\nu} K^+$ is 36.9% ± 4.9% with a background level of $0.2\pm 0.05({\rm syst})\pm$$0.2({\rm stat})$ events after 10 years of data collection. The estimated sensitivity based on 200 kton-years of exposure is $9.6 \times 10^{33}$ years, which is competitive with the current best limits on the proton lifetime in this channel and complements the use of different detection technologies