Electrochemical conversion of CO.sub.2 to formic acid or a salt thereof, using an indium containing catalytic electrode, comprising (a) electrochemically converting CO.sub.2 to formic acid or a salt thereof by applying a voltage to an electrochemical cell comprising the catalytic electrode as cathode and an anode, wherein the electrochemical cell is fed with an electrolyte comprising CO.sub.2; and (b) regenerating the catalytic electrode by lowering the voltage and subsequently washing the catalytic electrode with an aqueous liquid and exposing the catalytic electrode to air without applying voltage; and (c) optionally repeating steps (a) and (b).

The present disclosure relates to electrocatalysts for electroreduction of a carbon-containing gas to produce n-propanol, for example. The electrocatalyst includes a multi-metallic material comprising a primary metal, such as Cu, and a metal dopant, such as Ag, selected and distributed to provide asymmetric active sites that include neighbouring atoms of the primary metal having distinct electronic structures to promote C2-C1 coupling. The electrocatalysts can be bimetallic or bimetallic, for example. The disclosure also relates to manufacturing and using the electrocatalysts, which can be used as a cathodic catalyst to convert CO or CO.sub.2 into multi-carbon products.

The present disclosure relates to electrocatalysts for electroreduction of a carbon-containing gas to produce n-propanol, for example. The electrocatalyst includes a multi-metallic material comprising a primary metal, such as Cu, and a metal dopant, such as Ag, selected and distributed to provide asymmetric active sites that include neighbouring atoms of the primary metal having distinct electronic structures to promote C2-C1 coupling. The electrocatalysts can be bimetallic or bimetallic, for example. The disclosure also relates to manufacturing and using the electrocatalysts, which can be used as a cathodic catalyst to convert CO or CO.sub.2 into multi-carbon products.

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to catalyst compositions, processes for producing such catalyst compositions, and uses of such catalyst compositions. In an embodiment, a composition is provided. The composition includes an electrolyte material or an ion thereof, an amphiphile material or an ion thereof, and a metal component, the metal component comprising an alloy having the formula (M.sup.1).sub.a(M.sup.2).sub.b, wherein M.sup.1 is a Group 10-11 metal of the periodic table of the elements, M.sup.2 is a first Group 8-11 metal of the periodic table of the elements, M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 are different, and a and b are positive numbers. In another embodiment, a device is provided that includes an electrolyte material or ion thereof, an amphiphile material or ion thereof, and a metal component disposed on an electrode, the metal component comprising a bimetallic nanoframe, a trimetallic nanoframe, or a combination thereof.

This invention relates to a process for the electrochemical synthesis of green urea, and the urea produced thereby. The electrochemical synthesis of urea involves the reduction of dual purging gases N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 via six electron transfer process (N.sub.2+CO.sub.2+6H.sup.++6e.sup.−.fwdarw.CO (NH.sub.2).sub.2+H.sub.2O) & reduction of the NO.sub.3.sup.− ions and CO.sub.2 via sixteen electron transfer process (2NO.sub.3.sup.−+CO.sub.2+18H.sup.++16e.sup.−.fwdarw.CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2+7H.sub.2O) under ambient condition using copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) catalyst. The binding of two intermediate products during dual reduction simultaneously, leads to the production of urea in water medium under ambient conditions.

A method for making a metal-organic framework, MOF, as nanosheets, includes providing a MXene, wherein the MXene has a general formula of M.sub.n+1X.sub.nT.sub.x, with n=1-3, M represents an early transition metal, X is C and/or N, and Tx is surface terminations; providing a ligand; mixing the MXene and the ligand in a vessel; heating the MXene and the ligand in the vessel; and forming the MX-MOF nanosheets. The MX-MOF nanosheets have a thickness less than 10 nm.

A method for making a metal-organic framework, MOF, as nanosheets, includes providing a MXene, wherein the MXene has a general formula of M.sub.n+1X.sub.nT.sub.x, with n=1-3, M represents an early transition metal, X is C and/or N, and Tx is surface terminations; providing a ligand; mixing the MXene and the ligand in a vessel; heating the MXene and the ligand in the vessel; and forming the MX-MOF nanosheets. The MX-MOF nanosheets have a thickness less than 10 nm.

The present invention discloses a membrane-less reactor design for microbial electrosynthesis of alcohols from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The membrane-less reactor design thus facilitates higher and efficient CO.sub.2 transformation to alcohols via single pot microbial electrosynthesis. The reactor design operates efficiently avoiding oxygen contact at working electrode without using membrane, in turn there is an increase in CO.sub.2 solubility and its bioavailability for subsequent CO.sub.2 conversion to alcohols at faster rate. The present invention further provides a process of operation of the reactor for biotransformation of the carbon dioxide.

The present invention discloses a membrane-less reactor design for microbial electrosynthesis of alcohols from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The membrane-less reactor design thus facilitates higher and efficient CO.sub.2 transformation to alcohols via single pot microbial electrosynthesis. The reactor design operates efficiently avoiding oxygen contact at working electrode without using membrane, in turn there is an increase in CO.sub.2 solubility and its bioavailability for subsequent CO.sub.2 conversion to alcohols at faster rate. The present invention further provides a process of operation of the reactor for biotransformation of the carbon dioxide.

Methods and systems related to the field of carbon capture and utilization are disclosed. A disclosed method for controlling an electrolysis system with a plurality of electrolysis cells includes several steps. The electrolysis system converts a fluidic flow containing CO.sub.x into at least one chemical. The method includes monitoring, using at least one sensor, a plurality of electrolysis cells. The method also includes identifying, via the monitoring, a degrading cell in the plurality of electrolysis cells. The method also includes modifying, upon the identifying of the degrading cell and while continuing to operate at least one other cell in the plurality of electrolysis cells, an operational state of the plurality of electrolysis cells.