Name: Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2025-11-07T13:20:00.000+00:00
Duration: 10 min 15 s
Description: Learn to fabricate Ti3C2Tx MXene-supported CuZn and NiCo bi-metallic electrocatalysts for solar-driven CO2 reduction and water splitting. This method enables efficient green fuel production with enhanced durability.

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5 minutes

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials through the Industrial Collaboration Programme (RICP-R4-100061) and MATcelerateZero (MATZ0), funded from a grant provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/X527257/1. The authors acknowledge the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Project ID: NEXTCCUS), University College London&#39;s Research, Innovation and Global Engagement, University of Sydney - University College London Partnership Collaboration Awards, UCL-Peking University Strategic Partner Funds, Cornell-UCL Global Strategic Collaboration Awards, and IISc-UCL Joint seed fund for their financial support. The authors acknowledge the ACT program (Accelerating CCS Technologies, Horizon 2020 Project No. 691712) for the financial support of the NEXTCCUS project (project ID: 327327). This work was supported by the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials through the Equipment Access Scheme, enabling access to the Royce SEM-FIB Suite at Cambridge; Cambridge Royce facilities grant EP/P024947/1 and Sir Henry Royce Institute - recurrent grant EP/R00661X/1.

The reagents and the equipment used in this study are listed in the Table of Materials.
1. Synthesis of Ti3C2Tx MXene
<ol>
	<li>Wash 1 g of optimized Ti3AlC2 MAX phase using 9 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) for 18 h to remove intermetallic impurities.</li>
	<li>Prepare the etchant solution by mixing 12 M HCl, deionized (DI) water, and 50 wt% hydrofluoric acid (HF) in a 6:3:1 volume ratio. 
	NOTE: Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is highly toxic and corrosive. Perform all steps involving HF in a certified fume hood while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, lab coat, and face shield.</li>
	<li>Add the HCl-washed MAX powder to the etchant solution and stir at 400 rpm for 24 h at 35 °C.</li>
	<li>Wash the etched Ti3C2Tx MXene with DI water by repeated centrifugation at 3234 x g for 4-5 cycles (~200 mL each), each cycle of 10 min, until the supernatant reaches a neutral pH of approximately 6.</li>
	<li>Delaminate the MXene by adding the washed sediment to a lithium chloride (LiCl) solution (50 mL per gram of etched powder) and stir at 400 rpm for 1 h at 65 °C under argon gas flow.</li>
	<li>Wash the mixture by centrifugation at 3234 x g for 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, and 20 min sequentially at room temperature.</li>
	<li>Vortex mix the final suspension for 30 min at room temperature, then centrifuge at 2380 x g for 30 min to obtain single-to-few-layered Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of precursors
<ol>
	<li>Disperse 300 mg of Ti3C2Tx MXene in 100 mL of DI water. Sonicate for 5 min to ensure stable dispersion.</li>
	<li>Prepare a 30 mM copper citrate solution and a 10 mM zinc oxalate solution in DI water. Ensure to make all solutions in a hood with proper PPE, avoiding spillage or direct contact with skin.</li>
	<li>Prepare 50 mM solutions of nickel nitrate and cobalt nitrate in DI water.</li>
	<li>Prepare a dispersion of 5 mg of Pt/C in 50 mL of DI water and sonicate for 10 min at room temperature.</li>
</ol>
3. Fabrication of electrodes
<ol>
	<li>Clean the nickel foam using acetone and then sonicate in DI water for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Activate the carbon fiber paper (CFP) by soaking it in 1 M nitric acid (HNO3) for 20 min. Activate the CFP in a hood and use gloves and proper PPE.</li>
	<li>Immerse the cleaned nickel foam (5 cm × 5 cm) in MXene solution for 5 min. Dry at room temperature under vacuum. Label this sample as MXene-Ni-Foam.</li>
	<li>Spray-coat MXene solution onto activated CFP. Label the sample as MXene-CFP. Load 50 mL of Mxene solution in a spray gun. At a distance of 5 cm, spray the ink on the activated CFP, covering the whole surface of the 2 cm x 2 cm CFP.</li>
	<li>In a glass electrochemical cell, add the Cu and Zn precursor solutions. Use an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, a platinum counter electrode, and MXene-CFP as the working electrode, and connect the electrodes to their respective connection on the potentiostat. 
	NOTE: For example, the MXene-CFP electrode will be connected to the working electrode connection, and likewise. The electrolyte bath consisted of 50 mL of 30 mM Cu citrate solution and 10 mM Zn oxalate in DI water.</li>
	<li>Apply the following pulsed current deposition sequence: -10 mA/cm2 for 1 s, 0 mA/cm2 (null pulse) for 0.5 s, +10 mA/cm² for 0.5 s.</li>
	<li>Repeat for 1000 cycles to deposit CuZn. Label the resulting electrode as CuZn@Ti3C2Tx-MXene-CFP.</li>
	<li>In another cell, add Ni and Co precursor solutions. Use the same electrode configuration but replace the working electrode with MXene-Ni-Foam. Ensure the electrodes in the electrochemical cell are connected properly with the respective connections on the potentiostat. The electrolytic bath consists of 50 mL of 50 mM Ni nitrate and Co nitrate in DI water.</li>
	<li>Apply the same pulsed deposition cycle (as in step 3.6) for 1000 sets to obtain NiCo@Ti3C2Tx-MXene-Ni-Foam.</li>
	<li>Fill 50 mL of Pt/C in the spray gun. From a distance of 5 cm, spray-coat Pt/C onto Ni mesh and dry in a vacuum oven at 60 °C to prepare the reference cathode for water electrolysis.</li>
</ol>
4. Structural characterization
<ol>
	<li>Cut each electrode into 0.5 cm × 1 cm pieces.</li>
	<li>Perform X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for phase and morphology analysis. 
	NOTE: The size of electrode pieces should be similar to what fits the XRD and SEM instrument sample preparation guidelines.</li>
</ol>
5. Electrochemical CO2 reduction
<ol>
	<li>Assemble an H-cell with an alkaline exchange membrane separating the two chambers.</li>
	<li>Use Ni-Foam as anode and CuZn@Ti3C2Tx-MXene-CFP (2 cm × 2 cm) as cathode. Use 1 M KOH as an electrolyte in both chambers. Check thoroughly for any electrolyte leaks at the membrane junction. Tighten the junction for any leaks. 
	NOTE: KOH is highly corrosive; wear proper PPE, put all solutions in a fume hood, and avoid contact with skin. Keep all solutions on flat surfaces away from personal intrusion and electrical plugs.</li>
	<li>Insert an Hg/HgO reference electrode in the cathode compartment. Seal the system to be gas-tight. Add a tubing for the CO2 inlet and one for the gas outlet in the cathodic chamber.</li>
	<li>Purge CO2 into the cathodic chamber at 30 mL/min for 15 min to saturate the electrolyte.</li>
	<li>Illuminate the photovoltaic (PV) cell with 1-sun intensity and connect it to the cell (positive to anode, negative to cathode).</li>
	<li>Record cyclic voltammetry (CV) from 0 V to -2.5 V at 50 mV/s and EIS (100 kHz to 0.1 Hz) at open circuit potential.</li>
	<li>Perform a 0 A chrono potentiometric measurement for 2 h, recording current periodically using a multimeter. The recorded current can be used to calculate the faradaic efficiency of products.</li>
	<li>Connect the cathodic chamber outlet to a gas chromatograph (GC) for in-line sampling every 10 min. Program the GC for the detection and quantification of permanent gases. Use a packed column, such as the Molecular sieve, to identify the gases. 
	NOTE: The temperature of the oven is set at ramping with an initial temperature of 150 °C with a hold time of 2 min and further ramped to 200 °C with a hold time of 1 min to allow proper separation and elution of the gases from the mixture.</li>
</ol>
6. Electrochemical water electrolysis (OER)
<ol>
	<li>Repeat the H-cell setup with NiCo@Ti3C2Tx-MXene-Ni-Foam as anode and Pt/C@Ni mesh as cathode. Insert an Hg/HgO electrode as a reference electrode in the anodic chamber with the working electrode.</li>
	<li>Fill both chambers with 1 M KOH electrolyte.</li>
	<li>Record CV from 0 V to 1.2 V at 50 mV/s and EIS (10 kHz to 0.1 Hz, 10 mV amplitude) at open circuit potential. On the autolab potentiostat, use the OCP (open circuit potential) determination function to record OCP.</li>
	<li>Illuminate the PV cell with 1-sun light using a solar simulator placed 6 cm away, or luminosity of 1 sun on the cell.</li>
	<li>Connect PV terminals to electrodes and record a 0 A chrono potentiometric curve. Monitor and log current for efficiency calculations.</li>
	<li>Connect the cathode outlet to GC and analyze hydrogen production every 10 min using a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) with nitrogen as carrier gas.</li>
</ol>
7. Zero-gap electrolyzer assembly
<ol>
	<li>Wash with water and prepare a zero-gap cell. Prepare clean polyvinyl propylene tubing and other accessories, like push and pull values that fit the tubing to create junctions between various parts of the alkaline water electrolysis assembly.</li>
	<li>Stack the following in sequence: Cell anode plate, NiCo@Ti3C2Tx-MXene-Ni-Foam anode, gasket (same or slightly thicker (0.1 mm) than the thickness of anode), alkaline exchange membrane, gasket, Pt/C cathode, and finally cathode cell plate. Use positioning rods for alignment if available, or make sure to keep the layers firm and stationary on a table.</li>
	<li>Assemble the electrolyzer with proper alignment of all layers and end plates. Secure tightly using screws.</li>
	<li>Connect the cell to peristaltic pumps circulating 30% KOH at 30 mL/min. The flow rate of electrolytes can be adjusted, and depending on the gas evolution and temperature, the electrolytes can be increased for better gas removal and activity.</li>
	<li>Maintain the electrolyte reservoir at 60 °C using an oil bath and monitor with a temperature probe. Ensure not touching the cell or reservoir without thermal gloves. 
	NOTE: 30% KOH is highly caustic and can cause burns. Perform all experiments using proper personal protective equipment. Store extra electrolytes in a fume hood and keep the electrolyte reservoir on a flat surface that is well supported and balanced to avoid spills.</li>
</ol>
8. Calculation of Faradaic efficiency
<ol>
	<li>Use the following equation: 
	<img alt="Faradaic efficiency formula, FE = (Qprod/Qtotal)×100%, electrochemistry equation." src="/files/ftp_upload/68870/68870eq1.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1783396841000" data-alt="Equation 1"> 
	Where  Qprod is the charge used to form the product (e.g., hydrogen or CO2R product), and Qtotal is the total charge passed. 
	NOTE: Dispose of all HF- and HCl-containing waste following institutional hazardous waste protocols. Consult Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and environmental health and safety (EHS) personnel for disposal guidance.</li>
</ol>

Authors have nothing to disclose.

This study presents the protocol for the synthesis of bi-metallic electrodes for solar-driven redox reactions for fuel generation. Decarbonizing the energy sector heavily depends on CO2 conversion035,36,37&#160;and use of zero-emission fuels like hydrogen generated from water38,39. Solar-driven electrochemical transformation of carbon dioxide and water needs a...

Replacing fossil fuels with zero-emission alternatives is critical to decarbonizing the energy sector and increasing the use of renewable energy1,2,3. Conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), and other carbonaceous fuels is becoming an important route to prevent further CO2 emissions and create a circular carbon economy4. Similarly, replacing fossil fuels with high energy density hydrogen is projected to accelerate the energy transition from fossil-based to zero-emission fuels5,6,7,8. The energy generation system can be further made cost-effective, and eco-friendly by using direct sunlight9,10,11,12. The green energy transition can generate positive socio-economic outcomes, particularly by enhancing social impacts and thereby increasing the social capital associated with zero-emission fuel generation13.
An extensive body of research has been dedicated to solar-driven electrochemical reduction of CO2 and hydrogen generation14,15. Copper-based materials have shown excellent activity (&#62;70% faradaic efficiency towards C2 product) towards CO2 reduction16,17,18,19. Bimetallic systems consisting of copper lead to an increase in Faradaic Efficiencies (FE) and overall carbon dioxide conversion rate. The main challenges are high overpotentials, lower faradaic efficiencies, and selectivity of a single product20. Integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems with electrochemical reactions requires an overlap between the electrocatalyst&#39;s faradaic activity and the solar cell&#39;s maximum power point to achieve sustainable fuel production rates21,22. Ni and Co bimetallic systems have been extensively reported as high functional anodes for alkaline water electrolysis due to their &#60;600 mV overpotential at currents &#62;100 mA/cm2&#160;23,24. Rapid degradation of the catalyst at industrially relevant currents limits their viability as commercial anodes. The electrolyte-induced short circuiting by corrosion of the interface between the metal layer and substrate further makes water electrolysis sluggish25,26.
MXenes, a growing family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have emerged as promising materials for electrochemical CO2R reaction due to their unique structural and electronic properties27,28. First discovered in 2011, MXenes are mostly derived from bulk-layered Mn+1AXn phases (where n = 1- 4) which consists of n+1 layers of one or more transition metals (M, typically from groups 4-6), interleaved with X layers, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) or both (CN), and an A group element (usually from groups 13-16). Their compositions can be tuned using different transition metals of groups 4 to 6, X sublattice (C/N), and Tx represents surface terminations (e.g., -O, -OH, -F, -Cl)27,29,30. In CO2R, MXenes are being actively investigated as co-catalysts or supports due to their tunable surface chemistry, catalytically active sites, high specific surface area, and metal-like electrical conductivity.
Recent theoretical studies predict that decorating MXenes with bimetallic or single atoms can substantially enhance CO2R performance by modulating their electronic structure. These design strategies shift the d-band center, modulate the intermediate adsorption energies, and lower the Gibbs free energy barriers of rate-determining steps31,32,33. For instance, Mo2ZC2 MXenes (Z = Ti, V, etc.) have been shown to strengthen -HOCH2O adsorption and weaken -OCH2O binding in electrochemical CO2RR, thereby reducing the limiting potential for CH4&#160;production due to an upshift in the d-band center of Mo atoms. In another study, Cu-doped Ti3C2Tx MXene achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 58.1% toward HCOO- production by introducing polarized sites that facilitate intermediate adsorption and electron transfer. These few theoretical studies guide the potential of exploring MXene-based bimetallic catalysts in tailoring CO2RR pathways.
Here, we have synthesized CuZn@Ti3C2Tx MXene cathodes and NiCo@Ti3C2Tx MXene anodes for CO2R and water electrolysis by simple one-pot electrodeposition. The optimized procedure can be used to deposit a range of bi-metallic or polymetallic systems in concentration ranges from 5 to 100 mM each with pH control. Each set of desired systems would demand tuning the pH and current density according to their electrochemical potentials, deposition potential, reaction conditions, etc. Although the deposition can be carried out on a two-electrode setup, better control over the deposition voltage through reference electrodes is advised. The method can deposit large structures as well as fine particles by controlling reaction parameters like current density, ON-OFF time ratio, and pH. The refined and optimized grain structure tuned by reverse current pulses shows high Faradaic efficiency (56% for hydrocarbons) for CO2R with very low catalyst degradation. Water electrolysis is demonstrated on NiCo@Ti3C2Tx MXene in an H-cell for laboratory conditions with 98% FE and in a zero-gap cell for industrial conditions. A demonstration of in-line product determination by gas chromatography is also featured. The overall system integration and its operation have been closely monitored using the safe-by-design protocols established in our lab34.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Autolab 302</td><td>Metrohm UK</td><td>PGSTAT302N</td><td>It assess the electrochemical activity of the system (CO2R and WE)</td></tr><tr><td>Cobalt nitrate hexahydrate</td><td>Sigma aldrich&amp;nbsp;</td><td>98 10026-22-9</td><td>precursor for water electrolysis anode</td></tr><tr><td>Copper nitrate trihydrate</td><td>Sigma aldrich</td><td>10031-43-3.</td><td>precursor for CO2R cathode</td></tr><tr><td>Light source</td><td>SOION tech</td><td>xenon lamp</td><td>Light source to illuminate the solar cell</td></tr><tr><td>Nickel nitrate hexahydrate</td><td>Sigma aldrich</td><td>13478-00-7</td><td>precursor for water electrolysis anode</td></tr><tr><td>Online gas chromatography</td><td>Agilent</td><td>8890</td><td>connected to the electrochemical cell and loops a sample , ~10microlitre gas every 10 minutes or time described in the command for identification and quantification.</td></tr><tr><td>Peristaltic pumps&amp;nbsp;</td><td>SOION tech</td><td>BT100-3J</td><td>to flow electrolyte in zero-gap cell.</td></tr><tr><td>Potassium hydroxide</td><td>Sigma aldrich</td><td>1310-58-3</td><td>Electrolyte for CO2R and water electrolysis.</td></tr><tr><td>Solar cell (photovoltaic cell)</td><td>Fuel cell store</td><td></td><td>Silicon tandem cell that can supply upto 4 volts of potential and currents of ~300mA</td></tr><tr><td>Sustainion membrane</td><td>Dioxide materials</td><td>X37-50 Grade RT</td><td>anion exchange membrane used for ion transport from cathode to anode and stop gas and product crossovers.</td></tr><tr><td>Ti&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;C&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;T&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt; MXene</td><td>Anasori Lab, Purdue University</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vionic</td><td>Metrohm UK</td><td>3500001080</td><td>It assess the electrochemical activity of the system (CO2R and WE) at higher currents. It has higher current and potential windows.</td></tr><tr><td>Zinc citrate</td><td>Sigma aldrich</td><td>480762</td><td>precursor for CO2R cathode</td></tr></tbody></table>

solar-driven electrochemical green fuel production from co2 and water using ti3c2tx mxene-supported cuzn and nico catalysts

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO2 and Water Using Ti3C2Tx MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

This protocol describes the synthesis and activity mapping of bi-metallic, MXene-supported cathodes for carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R) and anodes for water splitting utilizing solar energy in alkaline media. A reverse current pulse electrodeposition technique was used to control the nanostructure, grain refinement, and alloy composition of the fabricated electrodes. Both anodes and cathodes are noble metal-free and supported on two-dimensional (2D) titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene, which reduces contact resistance and facilitates the charge transfer from substrate to reactants via catalysts. Copper zinc (CuZn) supported on Ti3C2Tx MXene are used as cathodes for methanol production in thermocatalytic CO2 conversion, and here we have demonstrated their performance in electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) for the first time. Nickel cobalt (NiCo) supported on Ti3C2Tx MXene are similarly fabricated via pulse electrodeposition and tested as anodes for water electrolysis driven by a solar cell under simplified laboratory conditions. The activity also describes the structural characterization of metallic thin films. Detailed setup for the integration of the state-of-the-art perovskite silicon tandem solar cell with electrochemical cell, which in turn feeds in-line gas chromatography, is demonstrated for both CO2R and water electrolysis (WE). A setup detailing the water electrolysis at commercial conditions of highly caustic alkaline solutions (30% KOH), high temperatures (60 &#176;C), and in a zero-gap cell is demonstrated on the fabricated anode paired with a Pt/C spray-coated cathode.

The X-ray diffraction technique is used to analyse the solid crystal structure of the metal films. Cut appropriately sized (fits the sample stub of the XRD machine) film samples. Load the samples in the machine and scan a range of 2Θ from 10°to 80°. The XRD graph obtained shows peak signals for the crystal planes present in the material. Use the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) reference pattern to identify and further analyse the crystal structure, like main peaks, d-spac...

This protocol guides the fabrication and electrochemical analysis of MXene-supported CuZn and NiCo bi-metallic electrocatalysts for green fuel production from carbon dioxide and water using solar energy.

This protocol describes the synthesis and activity mapping of bi-metallic, MXene-supported cathodes for carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R) and anodes for ...

The scope of our work broadly addresses the synthesis, characterization and analysis of novel disruptive binder, free catalyst films to produce solar fuels from water and carbon dioxide. The main challenge in the field include low paraic efficiencies in adequate production rates, long-term catalyst, durability, and the scalability of the system. To begin, clean the nickel foam using acetone, then sonicate the nickel foam in deionized water for five minutes.Under the fume hood, soak the carbon fiber paper in one molar nitric acid for 20 minutes to activate it while wearing gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment. Immerse the cleaned nickel foam and MXene solution for five minutes. After drying the sample, label it as MXene nickel foam.Now load 50 milliliters of MXene solution into a spray gun and spray the solution onto the nickel foam. Next, add copper and zinc precursor solutions into a glass electrochemical cell. Insert a silver or silver chloride reference electrode, a platinum counter electrode and the MXene carbon fiber paper working electrode into the cell.Then connect each electrode to its respective terminal on the potential stat. Apply the given pulsed current deposition sequence and repeat for 1, 000 times to deposit the copper zinc layer. In a separate electrochemical cell, add nickel and cobalt precursor solutions.Use the same electrode configuration, but replace the working electrode with the MXene nickel foam. Prepare the electrolyte bath with 50 milliliters of 50 millimolar nickel nitrate in cobalt nitrate, dissolved in deionized water. Connect all electrodes to the appropriate inputs on the potential stat, ensuring the MXene nickel foam is connected as the working electrode.Apply the same pulse deposition cycle as previously demonstrated for 1, 000 sets to obtain nickel cobalt integrated titanium carbide MXene nickel foam. To assemble a two compartment hydrogen cell, insert an alkaline exchange membrane to separate the two chambers. Use nickel foam as the anode and a two centimeter by two centimeter copper at titanium carbide MXene on carbon fiber electrode as the cathode.Then fill both chambers with one molar potassium hydroxide solution as the electrolyte. Check the membrane junction thoroughly for any electrolyte leaks and tighten the junction if needed. Now insert a mercury or mercury oxide reference electrode into the cathode chamber and seal the entire system to ensure it is gas tight.Add one tube for carbon dioxide inlet and another for the gas outlet in the cathartic chamber. Then purge carbon dioxide into the cathartic chamber at a rate of 30 milliliters per minute for 15 minutes to saturate the electrolyte. Illuminate the photovoltaic cell with one sun intensity and connect it to the cell.Now record cyclic voltammetry from zero volts to 2.5 volts at a scan rate of 50 millivolts per second and EIS at open circuit potential. Perform a zero amp chronoamperometric measurement for two hours. Record the current periodically using a multimeter to calculate the Faradic efficiency of the products.Connect the gas outlet of the cathodic chamber to a gas chromatograph for inline sampling every 10 minutes. Program the gas chromatograph to detect and quantify permanent gases using a packed column such as a molecular sieve. Set the oven temperature to start at 150 degrees Celsius with a two minute hold.Then ramp to 200 degrees Celsius with a one minute hold for effective separation and evolution of gases. Repeat the H cell assembly using nickel cobalt at titanium carbide MXene nickel foam as the anode and platinum on carbon coated nickel mesh as the cathode. Insert a mercury or mercury oxide reference electrode into the anechoic chamber along with the working electrode.Fill both chambers of the H cell with one molar potassium hydroxide solution. Record cyclic voltammetry from zero volts to 1.2 volts at a scan rate of 50 millivolts per second and EIS under open circuit conditions. Use the OCP determination function on the auto lab potential stat to record the open circuit potential.Now illuminate the photovoltaic cell using a solar simulator positioned five centimeters away set to one sunlight intensity. Connect the terminals of the photovoltaic cell to the electrodes and perform a 0 amp chronoampetontiometric measurement. Monitor and log the current continuously for efficiency calculations.Now connect the gas outlet of the cathode chamber to a gas chromatograph. Then analyze hydrogen gas production every 10 minutes using a thermal conductivity detector and nitrogen as the carrier gas. After washing the components with water, start assembling a zero gap electrolyzer cell.Prepare clean polyvinyl propylene tubing and attach compatible push and pull valves to create junctions between different parts of the alkaline water electrolysis setup. Stack the cell components sequentially starting with the cell anode plate nickel cobalt at titanium carbide MXene and Ni-foam anode, gasket, alkaline exchange membrane, another gasket, platinum carbon cathode, and finally, the cathode cell plate. Use alignment rods if available or firmly position the layers manually on a table to keep them in place.To assemble the zero gap electrolyzer, align all layers and end plates properly and secure them using screws. Connect the assembled cell to peristaltic pumps circulating 30%potassium hydroxide at a flow rate of 30 milliliters per minute. Maintain the electrolyte reservoir at 60 degrees Celsius using an oil bath.Monitor the temperature with a probe and avoid touching the cell or reservoir without thermal gloves. The diffraction pattern of titanium aluminum carbide MXene exhibited characteristic peaks for metal aluminum carbide structure. After selective etching and delamination, the peaks shifted to lower angles suggesting the synthesis of titanium carbide MXene.The scanning electron microscope image of the titanium aluminum carbide MXene phase revealed its layered morphology. After selective etching and delamination, the scanning electron microscope image of titanium carbide MXene deposited on an Illumina anodic template exhibited a flake like morphology consisting of single to few layers. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope images confirmed the structures of copper zinc at titanium carbide MXene at carbon fiber paper and nickel cobalt at titanium carbide MXene at nickel foam.Cyclic voltammetry measurements in one molar potassium hydroxide showed distinct curves for carbon dioxide reduction by copper zinc at MXene and carbon fiber paper and for water electrolysis by nickel cobalt at MXene and nickel foam. EIS revealed different resistance profiles for the cathode copper zinc at MXene and CFP in carbon dioxide reduction and the anode nickel cobalt at MXene and nickel foam in water electrolysis. The CV profile and chrono amperograms were observed at different applied cell potentials.A biometallic system, lower over potential, perform well at industrial current density and has long operation hours. We're addressing the synthesis of novel, economical, and scalable and abundant for a functional biomechanic anode and cathode for carbon dioxide reduction in water solubility. Our findings paved the way to new one step film deposition that can lead to multicarbon products and green hydrogen generation at low power consumption.

solar-driven-electrochemical-green-fuel-production-from-co2-water

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

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CO2 Photoreduction to CH4 Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light

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Learn to fabricate Ti3C2Tx MXene-supported CuZn and NiCo bi-metallic electrocatalysts for solar-driven CO2 reduction and water splitting. This method enables efficient green fuel production with enhanced durability.

Solar-Driven Electrochemical Green Fuel Production from CO₂ and Water Using Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-Supported CuZn and NiCo Catalysts

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