DataVXAdvanced Energy MaterialsPaper
journal article·2025-10

Spatially Decoupled Electro‐Biosystem for Efficient CO 2 ‐to‐Chemicals Conversion via Tandem Catalysis

Lin Han, Yan Li, Xuyuan Wang, Zhibo Yao, Ziman Chen, Jin‐ping Li, Tianwei Tan, Sang Yup Lee, Yongqin Lv

Advanced Energy Materials· Volume 15· Issue 37
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Source abstract

Abstract

Abstract The upcycling of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into value‐added chemicals offers a compelling strategy for sustainable carbon utilization. However, the efficient synthesis of energy‐dense, long‐chain molecules remains a significant challenge. Here, a spatially decoupled electro‐biosystem integrating CO 2 electrolysis with microbial fermentation is presented to produce high‐value chemicals. A catalytic platform using tannic acid‐Cu 2+ metal‐phenolic networks is developed to spatially confine the synthesis of Ag and Cu 2 O nanoparticles within a covalent‐organic polymer, creating tandem catalytic sites. This design significantly enhances CO 2 ‐to‐ethanol selectivity (Faradaic efficiency: 44.5%) and boosts current density to 400 mA cm −2 . A compact membrane electrode assembly reactor (5×5 cm 2 ) enables ethanol production in pure water, which is further converted by engineered Escherichia coli into itaconic acid, isopropanol, and polyhydroxybutyrate. The modular design optimizes electrochemical reduction and microbial bioconversion, reducing metabolic burdens and improving efficiency, offering a scalable, adaptable biohybrid platform for CO 2 valorization.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

PolymersNanomaterialsCatalysis & surfaces

OpenAlex topics: CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts · Ionic liquids properties and applications · Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Green Biomanufacturing Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 P. R. China

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 P. R. China

National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery International Joint Bioenergy Laboratory of Ministry of Education Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemicals Biomanufacturing Beijing Synthetic Bio‐manufacturing Technology Innovation Center College of Life Science and Technology Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing 100029 P. R. China

Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory and Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross‐Generation Collaborative Laboratory Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four) Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea

Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China

Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology Uppsala University Uppsala 75123 Sweden

KAIST Institute for the BioCentury KAIST Institute for Artificial Intelligence BioProcess Engineering Research Center BioInformatics Research Center and Graduate School of Engineering Biology KAIST Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · China Scholarship Council · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality · National Key Research and Development Program of China

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