2. Characteristics and Applications of Carbon Nanotubes-based Catalyst
A variety of carbon bonds work to construct a new different structure of unique features. A layered structure with a weak out-of-plane van der Waals bond can be built by sp
2 hybridized carbon. The strong in-plane bonds play a major role in this purpose. A few to a few tens of concentric cylinders with regular periodic interlayer spacing locate around ordinary central hollow and made MWCNTs. The real-space analysis of multiwall nanotube images has shown a range of interlayer spacing (0.34 to 0.39 nm)
[31]. It was discovered that CNTs had superior thermal transfer properties. For instance, it was discovered that CNTs had extraordinarily high axial thermal conductivities, around 2000 W/mK or more than 3000 W/mK for MWCNTs, and much higher for SWCNTs
[32], and it was found that CNT-in-polymer and CNT-in-oil suspensions had massively enhanced thermal conductivity. Even the short CNTs agglomeration, randomly entangled with one another, have been employed in earlier studies
[33]. Then, on ceramic spheres, large-scale CNT arrays with millimeter vertical alignment have been constructed
[34]. High-speed shearing can easily spread them into fluffy CNTs. CNTs also demonstrated incredible catalytic uses
[35]. Long CNTs (over 500 m) intercrossed Cu/Zn/Al/Zr catalyst (CD703) were produced in 2010 by dispersing CNT arrays of vertical alignment in Na
2CO
3 fluid and co-precipitating with metal nitrite. When comparing Cu/Zn/Al/Zr catalytic compound without CNTs, the space time yield (STY) of methanol on CD703 rose by 7 and 8%, respectively, to 0.94 and 0.28 g/(g
cat h) for CO and CO
2 hydrogenation. Additionally, dimethyl ether (DME) has been formed by one step CO and CO
2 hydrogenation with a STY of 0.90 and 0.077 g/(g
cat h) at 270 °C when paired with γ-Al
2O
3 catalyst and HZSM-5. A CD703 catalyst exhibited great action with production of methanol as a result of phase separation, ions dopant, valence compensating, hydrogen reversibly adsorbent and storage on CNTs promoting hydrogen spillover. Since CNTs have higher thermal conductivity, CD703 has better stability. It was thus revealed that using Cu/Zn/Al/Zr catalytic compounds for the synthesis of methanol and DME from CO/CO
2 hydrogenation was well-promoted by long CNTs
[36]. Typically, bulk linked CNT constructions are used in the aerospace, automotive, robust electronics, and biomedical industries and have interesting properties
[37]. It is still difficult to join CNTs at interconnects to form effective 3D constructions with a desired strength
[38]. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been used under a range of pressure and temperature settings to synthesize bulk CNT linked structures. The interconnected 3D structures and the impact of processing conditions on structural damage to CNTs were examined with considerable detail using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Double-walled CNTs (DWCNTs) were produced in bulk by Guiderdoni et al., adopting SPS at 1100 °C and 100 MPa pressure
[39]. According to reporting requirements, DWCNTs remained intact under those conditions. Extensive molecular dynamic simulations have been used to better study welding of CNTs that resulted in interconnected constructions. The Ozden team previously investigated how density and CNT structure are affected mechanically, electrically, and in terms of hydrophilicity (
Figure 2)
[40]. Al-Hakami et al. in 2013 investigated an approach to remove Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from water using both naturally occurring CNTs and modified/functionalized CNTs containing 1-octadecanol groups (C18). As per their findings, E. coli was removed by CNT alone by 3–5%; however when paired with microwave radiation, unmodified CNT was able to remove up to 98% of bacteria. When CNT-C18 was employed in similar conditions, the bacteria had been removed by 100%
[41]. Most textile wastewater is harmful and non-biodegradable. Semiconductor catalysts can be utilized to treat the environmental contamination. TiO
2 is a significant photocatalyst; unfortunately, TiO
2 has a limited spectrum of light sensitivity and poor efficiency. However, TiO
2 and CNT together can boost photocatalytic activity
[42]. Using MWCNT and Ti as source materials, Ming-liang et al. synthesized a CNT-TiO
2 composite in 2009 to accelerate the photocatalytic oxidation of water contaminants
[43]. The composite’s photoactivity was assessed through the conversion of methylene blue in liquid phase under UV radiation. Researchers came to the conclusion that the CNT-TiO
2 composite’s ability to remove methylene blue is facilitating the transfer of electrons between MWCNT and TiO
2, as well as MWCNT adsorption and TiO
2 photodegradation.
Figure 2. (
a) Two CNTs are first arranged with their axes aligned at 180°. The atoms in red are heated from outside and are located at the contact tips of both tubes. (
b–
e). The tubes’ final configuration following heating with heat fluxes of 1.0, 4.1, 4.3, and 5.4 kcal mol
−1 fs
−1, respectively. Reprinted with permission from Ref.
[40]. Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons.
In 2016, Jauris et al. reported a relationship between SWCNTs and two artificial dyes (methylene blue and acridine orange)
[44]. Because of π-π interactions’ prevalence between each dye and the nanotubes, the researchers reached a conclusion that long-term configuration stability was where the dye is generally plano-parallel to the nanotube. SWCNT is a prospective adsorbent for dye degradation and could be employed commercially for treating wastewater. By increasing the nanotube’s radius, the dye-nanotube binding energy increases. In order to prepare Au-TiO
2@CNT composite photocatalysts for photocatalytic gaseous styrene removal, Zhang W. et al. used a simple micro/nano-bubble approach
[45]. High ternary-structure stability can be formed by reacting Au, and TiO
2 NPs coated onto CNTs can be efficiently facilitated by the micro/nano-bubbles. The response surface central composite design approach has been applied to examine Au-TiO
2@CNTs’ photoactivity. Rapid development of a compact structure increased the photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of styrene over Au-TiO
2@CNTs dramatically as the reaction temperature increased. The increased photocatalytic mechanism of Au-TiO
2@CNTs was further disclosed through the examination of EPR, UV-vis DRS, electrochemical characteristics, and TPD-O
2. The further identification of free radicals revealed that oxidative radicals like hydroxyls and superoxides were closely related to the photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of styrene, which was primarily because of CNT and Au NP synergistic influence for increased activity through the photocatalysis process.
3. CO2 Hydrogenation into Hydrocarbons and Oxygenated Hydrocarbons
Under certain conditions, it is thought that CO
2 catalytic hydrogenation with renewable hydrogen is an appropriate method for the chemical recycling of this hazardous and chemical resistance molecule into energy-carrying agents and chemical compounds. With a precise hydrogenation product, CO
2 can be hydrogenated into C
1 compounds like methane and methanol. It is more difficult to produce high (C
2+) hydrocarbons and oxygenates on a selective basis. Due to its higher volumetric energy density within a specific volume and compatibility with the current fuel infrastructure than C
1 compounds, such produced materials are desirable as entry platform chemicals and energy vectors
[46]. The main challenge is integrating catalytic functions as effectively as possible for both the reductive and chain-growth stages
[47]. The transformation of renewable energy also makes use of CO
2 as an energy carrier. Because renewable energy sources are intermittent by nature, there is presently a need for scalable storage
[48]. Consequently, a much more practical and easier method for storing significant volumes of intermittent energy generated from renewable sources for longer durations is the generation of synthetic natural gas or liquid fuels. The power to gas (PtG) concept has received considerable attention, as seen in
Figure 3 [49]. An alternate source of natural gas is produced when CO
2 combines with H
2, which is created by water electrolysis using renewable wind or solar energy. In Copenhagen, especially in 2016, a commercial-scale PtG project with 1.0 MW of capacity had been operating and successfully exploiting the transition to a sustainable energy system
[50]. In the period 2003–2009, with capacities ranging from 25–6300 kW, there were five initiatives in Germany utilizing CO
2 methanation at pilot-plant or commercial scale
[51]. The French chemist Paul Sabatier published his first study on CO
2 methanation in 1902
[52]. This age-old craft has gained fresh traction as a result of the growing need to combat global climate change and store excess renewable energy. The Sabatier reaction is an excellent method for converting CO
2 into chemical feedstocks and fuels, storing renewable energy sources like wind and solar energy, and efficiently converting biogas to biomethane
[53]. CO
2 methanation is an endothermic reaction with higher equilibrium conversion between 25 and 400 °C
[54]. By using the right catalysts, CO
2 methanation can achieve 99% CH
4 selectivity, avoid further product separation, and get around the challenges of dispersed product distribution. As a result, such a thermodynamic characteristic increases the importance of CO
2 methanation in terms of energy effectiveness and commercial viability.
Figure 3. Chemical compounds and fuels produced sustainably using CO2. At various temperatures, the equilibrium conversion of CO2 to methane is plotted from the previous literature data.
In order to synthesize C
2+ hydrocarbons, Fujiwara et al. (2015) investigated CO
2 hydrogenation over composite catalytic compounds made of Cu-Zn-Al oxide catalyst and HB zeolite via combining the production of methanol over Cu-Zn-Al oxide and the simultaneous conversion of methanol over HB zeolite
[55]. The yield of C
2+ hydrocarbons was low (0.5 C-mol%) and lower than that of oxygenated compounds when a non-modified zeolite was employed for the composite catalyst (methanol and dimethyl ether). For the conversion of dimethyl ether to C
2+ hydrocarbons, the strong acid sites of zeolite were severely inactivated. The catalytic activity of the associated composite catalysts was significantly enhanced by the use of zeolites treated with 1,4-bis(hydroxydimethylsilyl) benzene to create C
2+ hydrocarbons in yields of more than 7C-mol%. Under a pressure of 0.98 MPa, the best C
2+ hydrocarbon production selectivity was approximately 12.6 C-mol%. Hydrophobic zeolites with water contact angles more than 130° were created by the disilane modifications. The disilane molecule was converted into a few condensed aromatics during CO
2 hydrogenation at 300 °C, although the hydrophobicity was maintained even after the reaction. The hydrophobic surface of the HB zeolite inhibits the deactivation of the strong acid sites, increasing catalytic activity. Even under low pressure situations, this enhanced composite catalyst will support the synthesis of C
2+ hydrocarbons from CO
2.
In 2017, Zhang et al. suggested a procedure to create ethanol from paraformaldehyde, CO
2, and H
2 [56]. Under benign conditions, a ruthenium–cobalt (Ru-Co) bimetallic catalyst using LiI as the promoter in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) may effectively speed up the process. Overall products had a selectivity of 50.9 C-mol% for ethanol, which was obviously higher than that of the disclosed methods. Additionally, the TOF for ethanol based on Ru metal reached a maximum of 17.9 h
−1 as seen in
Figure 4.
Figure 4. Synergy between the processes used to fabricate ethanol from paraformaldehyde, CO
2, and H
2. The active species of Ru and Co are represented, respectively, by Ru* and Co*. Reprinted with permission from Ref.
[56]. Copyright © 2017, Royal Society of Chemistry.
Significant information about the involvement of oxygen in the electrochemical reduction of CO
2 on Cu electrodes was presented in 2017 by Le Duff and colleagues. They also regulated the surface structure and composition of Cu single crystal electrodes over time
[57]. Since the pulse sequence may be controlled to ensure consistent beginning conditions for the reaction at every fraction of time and at a certain frequency, this was accomplished using pulsed voltammetry. Compared to the selective CO
2 reduction achieved using cyclic voltammetry
[58], and chronoamperometric techniques
[59], under alternating voltage, a wide range of oxygenated hydrocarbons was discovered. The coverage of oxygen species, which is reliant on surface structure and potential, was linked to product selectivity towards the synthesis of oxygenated hydrocarbon. A nanowire-like WSe
2-graphene catalyst was created by Ali and Oh in 2017 and examined for its ability to photocatalytically convert CO
2 into CH
3OH when exposed to UV-visible light. XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, and XPS were used to further characterize the produced nanocomposite. Using gas chromatography (GCMS-QP2010SE), the photocurrent analysis was further evaluated for its photocatalytic reduction of CO
2. The sacrificial agent (Na
2S-Na
2SO
3) was added to WSe
2-graphene nanocomposite to further increase the photocatalytic effectiveness, and it was discovered that this improved the photocatalytic efficiency, with the methanol output reaching 5.0278 mol g
−1 h
−1 [60]. In a different study, Biswas et al. (2018) reported using ultrasonic techniques to create a WSe
2-Graphene-TiO
2 ternary nanocomposite
[61]. According to estimates, the WSe
2-Graphene-TiO
2 band-gap is 1.62 eV, which is adequate for the photocatalytic degradation when exposed to UV–visible light. For the conversion of CO
2 to CH
3OH, the photocatalytic capability of nanocomposites was examined. After 48 h, WSe
2-G-TiO
2 with an optimal graphene loading of 8 wt% shown high photoactivity, yielding a total CH
3OH yield of 6.3262 mol g
−1 h
−1. The gradual synergistic relationship between the WSe
2-TiO
2 and graphene components in the heterogeneous system is what causes this exceptional photoreduction activity. Ethylene could be produced from CO
2 electroreduction; however, present systems are constrained by low conversion efficiency, slow production rates, and unstable catalysts. In contrast to a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), Dinh et al. (2018) found that a copper electrocatalyst at an abrupt reaction interface in an alkaline electrolyte converts CO
2 to ethylene with a 70% faradaic efficiency (FE) at a potential of −0.55 volts
[62]. The activation energy barriers for CO
2 reduction and carbon monoxide (CO)-CO coupling are lowered by hydroxyl ions on or near the copper surface, and as a result, ethylene evolution begins at −0.165 volts versus an RHE in 10 molar potassium hydroxide virtually concurrently with CO generation. By sandwiching the reaction interface between different hydrophobic and conductive supports, a polymer-based gas diffusion layer was introduced to increase operational stability while maintaining continuous ethylene selectivity over the first 150 operating hours. In 2019, Ma and Porosoff proposed reaction mechanisms by combining in situ characterization techniques with DFT calculations, identifying structure–property relationships for the zeolite support, strategizing methods to increase catalyst lifetime, and developing advanced synthesis techniques for depositing a metal-based active phase within a zeolite for highly active, selective, and stable tandem catalysts
[63]. The critical research topics of reaction mechanism elucidation by combining in situ characterization methods with density functional theory calculations, identifying structure–property relationships for the zeolite support, developing advanced synthesis techniques for depositing a metal-based active phase within a zeolite for highly active, selective, and stable tandem cations, and strategizing methods to extend catalyst lifetime, are suggested as future research directions. An appealing method for storing such a renewable energy source in the form of chemical energy is the conversion of CO
2 into hydrocarbons using solar energy. A system that couples a photovoltaic (PV) cell to an electrochemical cell (EC) for CO
2 reduction can do this. Such a system should have minimum energy losses related to the catalysts at the anode and cathode, as well as the electrolyzer device, in order to be advantageous and usable. It should also use inexpensive and easily processed solar cells. All of these factors were taken into account by Huan et al. in 2019 when setting up a reference PV-EC system for CO
2 reduction to hydrocarbons
[64]. Combined with a fairly priced, state-of-the-art perovskite photovoltaic minimodule, this system sets a standard for a low-cost, all-earth-abundant PV-EC system with a solar-to-hydrocarbon efficiency of 2.3%. In 2019, Wu et al. demonstrated cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) catalysis for the six-electron reduction of CO
2 to methanol with considerable activity and selectivity when immobilized on CNTs
[65]. They discovered that the conversion produces methanol with FE > 40% and a partial current density exceeding 10 mm/cm
2 at −0.94 volts with respect to the reversible hydrogen electrode in a near-neutral electrolyte. CO serves as an intermediary in a special domino mechanism that moves the conversion along. By adding amino substituents that donate electrons to the phthalocyanine ring, it is possible to prevent the harmful reduction of the phthalocyanine ligand from having a negative effect on the catalytic activity. With significant activity, selectivity, and stable performance for at least 12 h, the enhanced molecule-based electrocatalyst converts CO
2 to methanol.
A novel multifunctional catalyst made of Fe
2O
3 encapsulated in K
2CO
3 was introduced by Ramirez et al. in 2019 and has the ability to use a tandem process to convert CO
2 into olefins
[66]. The authors established that, unlike the conventional systems in FT processes, very large K loadings are essential to activate CO
2 via the well-known “potassium carbonate mechanism.” While utilizing CO
2 as a feedstock, the suggested catalytic process proved to be just as productive as currently used commercial synthesis gas-based techniques. By employing Cu-doped MgAl
2O
4 (Mg
1−xCu
xAl
2O
4) and a straightforward deposition–reduction process, Tada et al. in 2020 investigated the synthesis of Cu NPs. The following three Cu
2+ species were present in Mg
1−xCu
xAl
2O
4 [67]: short O-Cu octahedrally coordinated [CuO
6]
s, elongated O-Cu octahedrally coordinated [CuO
6]
el, and tetrahedrally coordinated [CuO
4]
t. The first two were discovered in Mg
1−xCu
xAl
2O
4 of the inverse-spinel type, and the third was discovered in Mg
1−xCu
xAl
2O
4 of the normal-spinel type. In addition, they made it clear that their percentage is related to Cu loading by concentrating on the variation in the reducibility of the Cu
2+ species. Mg
1−xCu
xAl
2O
4 predominantly comprised the [CuO
6]
s species at low Cu loading (x < 0.3). In contrast, the fraction of the [CuO
6]
el and [CuO
4]
t species rose with high Cu loading (x ≥ 0.3). Notably, the H
2-reduced Mg
0.8Cu
0.2Al
2O
4 (x = 0.2) catalyst showed the best photocatalytic activity among the synthesized catalysts because it had the most exposed metallic Cu sites. Therefore, the formation of metallic Cu NPs on metal oxides depends on the H
2 reduction of [CuO
6]
s.
In 2021, Tada et al. suggested bifunctional tandem ZnZrO
x catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO
2 to methanol along with a number of solid acid catalysts (for subsequent methanol conversion to light olefins)
[68]. Researchers used zeolites and silicoaluminophosphates with a variety of topologies, including MOR, FER, MFI, BEA, CHA, and ERI, as solid acid catalysts. A study using ammonia adsorption revealed that they likewise displayed the equivalent acid characteristics. Lower olefins were being synthesized in one step using the tandem catalysts, whereas with ZnZrO
x alone, no hydrocarbons could be produced. There appears to be no relationship between product yields and acid strength, at least according to the reaction test and ammonia adsorption. The product selectivity is influenced by the pore sizes and the channel dimensionality of the zeolites; zeolites with small pores, like MOR, SAPO-34, and ERI, are promising, whereas zeolites with bigger pores, like MFI, generate heavier hydrocarbons. The outcomes offer fresh perspective on the creation of creative catalysts for CO
2 usage. A low-temperature atmospheric surface dielectric barrier discharge reactor that converts biogas into liquid chemicals was introduced by Rahmani et al. in 2021
[69]. The effect of steam on the conversion of methane and CO
2 was investigated, as well as the distribution of products in relation to a given energy input based on the operational circumstances. The authors reported conversion rates of 44% for CH
4 and 22% for CO
2. When steam was introduced at the in-feed, the lowest energy cost of 26 eV/molecule was attained. For liquid hydrocarbons, a selectivity of 3% was attained. The transformation of biogas (CH
4 + CO
2) resulted in the production of more than 12 compounds. At ambient temperature, the most prevalent oxygenated hydrocarbon liquids were acetone, methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol. H
2, CO, C
2H
4, and C
2H
6 were the major gases produced.
In order to explain an alternative approach for the chemical CO
2 reduction reaction, Islam et al. in 2021 subjected up to 3% CO
2-saturated pure water, NaCl, and artificial seawater solutions to high-power ultrasound (488 kHz ultrasonic plate transducer)
[70]. The converted CO
2 products under ultrasonic settings were discovered to be mostly CH
4, C
2H
4, and C
2H
6, as well as a significant amount of CO that was later converted into CH
4. The analysis revealed that adding molecular H
2 to the CO
2 conversion process is essential, and that raising the hydrogen concentration boosted hydrocarbon yields. However, it was found that the overall conversion decreased at higher hydrogen concentrations because hydrogen, a diatomic gas, is known to reduce cavitation activity in liquids. Additionally, it was discovered that the maximum hydrocarbon yields (nearly 5%) were achieved with 1.0 M NaCl solutions saturated with 2% CO
2 + 98% H
2, and that increasing salt concentrations further decreased the yield of hydrocarbons due to the combined physical and chemical effects of ultrasound. By diluting the flue gas with hydrogen, it was demonstrated that the CO
2 present in a synthetic industrial flue gas (86.74% N
2, 13.5% CO
2, 0.2% O
2, and 600 ppm of CO) could be transformed into hydrocarbons. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that the conversion process can be carried out in ambient circumstances, i.e., at room temperature and pressure, without the use of catalysts, when low-frequency, high-power ultrasound is used. Tian et al. in 2022 newly manufactured In
2O
3, MnO-In
2O
3, and MgO-In
2O
3 catalysts using the co-precipitation method, and they looked into the hydrogenation of CO
2 to methanol
[71]. The ability of In
2O
3 to absorb CO
2 was significantly improved by the addition of Mn and Mg oxides. The CO
2 adsorption capacity and the changing trend of methanol selectivity were consistent. As opposed to In
2O
3, the methanol selectivity of MnO-In
2O
3 and MgO-In
2O
3 catalysts is higher. ODP, or oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with CO
2, is a promising solution for efficient CO
2 usage. In a new study published in 2022, Chernyak et al. included various C-materials for the first time as supports for Cr-based catalysts of CO
2-assisted ODP
[72]. A commercially available activated carbon was evaluated alongside CNTs, jellyfish-like graphene nanoflakes, and their oxidized and N-doped derivatives. The oxidized CNT- and pure GNF-supported catalysts showed the highest activity and a propylene yield of up to 25%. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm that these two catalysts were stable throughout tests against disintegration and particle sintering. The oxidized CNT- and pristine graphene nanoflakes-supported catalysts’ high activity and durability were explained by their macro- and mesoporosity, which improve reagent and product diffusion, as well as by the highest surface graphitization degree, which was validated by XPS. These catalysts performed significantly better than the catalyst supported by activated carbon. As a result, CNTs and graphene nanoflakes are suitable supports for CO
2-ODP catalytic compounds. Several main catalysts used in the hydrogenation of CO
2 to hydrocarbon were summarized in
Table 1.
Table 1. Some of the main catalysts used in the hydrogenation of CO2 to hydrocarbon products.
Although the technique of hydrogenating carbon dioxide to produce methanol is inexpensive and environmentally benign, nevertheless, because of the increased stability and inertness of CO2, this reaction is thermodynamically constrained. The reaction below reveals the process of methanol production.
The reaction is thermodynamically advantageous at low temperatures and high pressure, according to the Le Chatelier’s principle. The enhanced thermal stability and chemical inertness of CO
2 means that this method of methanol synthesis requires a high temperature to proceed. Indeed, at elevated reaction temperatures (for example, higher than 240 °C), CO
2 activation and subsequent methanol production are facilitated. However, the higher temperature procedure strongly conflicts with the reaction’s thermodynamics. Furthermore, when the reaction is conducted at a higher temperature, undesired byproducts including higher alcohols and hydrocarbons are formed. Similar to this, because the CO
2 hydrogenation process produces methanol, which is a molecular reducing reaction, it is thermodynamically more advantageous at high pressure. By employing various catalysts, various reaction pressure sizes have been suggested for the best CO
2 conversion
[46].