Electrified and dynamically operated C1 chemistry: An emerging platform for power-to-X

Abstract

Catalytic conversion of one-carbon (C₁) molecules, such as CH₄, CO₂, and CO, into fuels and value-added chemicals is a vitally important process in the chemical industry. The C₁ catalytic reactions, including methane steam reforming and CO/CO₂ hydrogenation for methanol synthesis or liquid fuel/chemicals production based on the Fischer-Tropsch technology, are foundational to the conventional chemical/energy industry. Additionally, these C₁-related catalytic reactions have also been identified as important platforms for the power-to-X (PtX) processes. By utilizing CO₂, biogas, or waste CH₄ as the carbon sources, C₁ catalytic reactions facilitate the creation of synthetic fuels and valuable chemicals, effectively recycling carbon and reducing reliance on fossil resources. However, conventional C₁ catalytic reactions are typically operated at a very large scale and under a steady state for centralized production. For the PtX application, electrified and/or dynamically operated C₁ catalytic processes for distributed synthesis must be developed in order to use intermittent renewable electricity to drive the reactions. This perspective summarizes recent advances and discusses the opportunities and challenges of the conversion of C₁ molecules through electrified and dynamically operated catalysis.