Transforming Carbon Dioxide into Butanol through the Utilization of Copper Cathodes Enriched with Phosphorus

In a groundbreaking development, a team of researchers from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea have published a new method for the production of 1-butanol from carbon monoxide (CO). The research, which was published in volume 6 (issue 6) of ACS Energy Letters on 11 June 2021 and has been available online since 11 May 2021, has been making waves in the scientific community.

The researchers, led by Prof. Dr. Jaeyoung Lee, vice director of the ERTL Center and a full professor at the GIST School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, have developed a copper phosphide (CuP) electrocatalyst that induces a C-C coupling reaction, thereby circumventing the formation of CO, a critical intermediate for Cu-based systems. This is among the first instances in which CuP has been used to develop an electrocatalyst that is highly product-selective.

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology is a research-oriented university situated in Gwangju, South Korea. It aims to create a strong research environment to spur advancements in science and technology and to promote collaboration between foreign and domestic research programs.

The team's goal is to design new electrodes that are stackable, increase production rates, and promote conversion efficiency to make the conversion and use of CO as a fuel a reality. This research is particularly significant as scientists are looking for ways to convert CO into other organic products, such as 1-butanol, which has shown promise as an alternative fuel for vehicles.

The research team includes Dr. Jin Won Kim, a senior researcher and research assistant professor at the ERTL Center for Electrochemistry and Catalysis at GIST, Prof. Sungyool Bong, a research associate professor at the same centre, and Mr. Minjun Choi, a Ph.D. student in Electrochemical Reaction and Technology Lab (ERTL) at GIST. Mr. Choi received his Master's degree in electrochemistry in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jaeyoung Lee. Dr. Kim received his PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from GIST in 2015.

The researchers confirmed their CuP electrocatalyst yielded the desired product, 1-butanol, with a remarkably high Faradaic efficiency of >3%. This is a significant improvement over the electrochemical reduction reaction (CORR) method, which has traditionally produced a variety of products during the reaction.

The university associated with the research is Yonsei University. This breakthrough research is a testament to the innovative spirit and commitment to scientific advancement at GIST and in South Korea as a whole. As the world continues to seek sustainable and renewable energy sources, research such as this promises to pave the way for a greener future.