The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into high-value hydrocarbons has garnered extensive attention for its potential in reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and mitigating societal energy challenges. Currently, the predominant form of electrocatalysts is in a powdered state, which is prepared into electrodes through coating techniques. However, the issue of catalyst detachment is inevitable during long-term operation. To address this challenge, we have designed a self-supported carbon-based electrode. This electrode anchors nickel-nitrogen-carbon (Ni-Nx-C) active sites and combines organic and inorganic pore-forming agents to regulate the pore structure, thereby optimizing the performance of the carbon-based electrode. During the study of the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using the carbon-based electrode, we discovered a novel carbon reduction reaction. Under ambient conditions, high-carbon chemicals can be produced via the carbon reduction reaction without the need for a catalyst. This discovery holds profound significance for the resource utilization of carbon-containing waste.

Dr. Hongyuan Chuai received her PhD degree from Nankai University in 2019. During her PhD study, she worked as a joint PhD student in Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CRPP, CNRS) from October 2016 to October 2018. Then she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Tianjin University and now she is working as a research fellow at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She discovered and proposed the carbon reduction reaction for the first time in the world, pioneering a new direction for the electroreforming of carbon materials into high-carbon chemicals. She has published over ten papers as the first/corresponding author in renowned journals such as ACS Catalysis, and has been granted/applied for two patents. She has been awarded to Best Researcher Award for the contribution and honourable achievement in innovation research.