Gridized Nanopolymer Catalysis with Atomically Dispersed Iron Achieves the Nearly 100% Selective Electrosynthesis of Methanol From CO <sub>2</sub>

T Tonglin Yang F Fangqi Yang (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE), Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), School of Materials Science and Engineering) T Tao Wang W Weihao Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University) F Fu Deng (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) &amp; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) Nanjing University of Posts &amp; Telecommunications 9 Wenyuan Road Nanjing 210023 China) C Chunxiao Zhong (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) &amp; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) Nanjing University of Posts &amp; Telecommunications 9 Wenyuan Road Nanjing 210023 China) Q Qian Peng (State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China) C Chao Liu X Xin Chen Z Zheng Zhang Y Yang Li Y Yang Feng X Xiaoyan Li K Kuande Wang (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) &amp; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) Nanjing University of Posts &amp; Telecommunications 9 Wenyuan Road Nanjing 210023 China) C Chong Zhang (School of Chemistry) Y Yang Zhou X Xuanzhao Lu W Wenlei Zhu (State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry, School of Environment) Y Ying Wei L Linghai Xie (Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM)) W Wei Huang

Abstract

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to methanol (CH 3 OH) offers a highly promising avenue for zero‐emission carbon recycling and renewable energy storage. However, achieving high CH 3 OH selectivity and long‐term stability in catalysts remains rare, presenting central challenges on the path to their commercialization. It is emerging to make multiscale design of metal centers of active sites and their surrounding environments under the crucial mechanism of pathway selection. Herein, the gridized nanomolecular and nanopolymer catalysts are reported for high effective electroreduction of CO 2 to CH 3 OH. An A‐type nanogrid (AG) and its organic nanopolymers with atomically dispersed iron (Fe) are well identified with the unique catalytic active sites of Fe‐N 1 C 3 Cl 1 . Notably, Fe‐based AG nanopolymer (FePAG) catalyst exhibits a CH 3 OH Faradaic efficiency of 60.5%, a CH 3 OH selectivity of 98.3%, and a stability of up to 100 h, outperforming currently reported molecular catalysts. The superior selectivity is probably attributed to the cooperation between the stronger *CO adsorption and the super‐hindrance that suppresses aggregates to guarantee the dispersion of single active sites. This study provides new insights in the exploration of nanomolecular and nanopolymer catalysis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 1
Published January 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (21)

T

Tonglin Yang

F

Fangqi Yang

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE), Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), School of Materials Science and Engineering

T

Tao Wang

W

Weihao Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, Taikang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University

F

Fu Deng

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) &amp; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) Nanjing University of Posts &amp; Telecommunications 9 Wenyuan Road Nanjing 210023 China

C

Chunxiao Zhong

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) &amp; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) Nanjing University of Posts &amp; Telecommunications 9 Wenyuan Road Nanjing 210023 China

Q

Qian Peng

State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China

C

Chao Liu

X

Xin Chen

Z

Zheng Zhang

Y

Yang Li

Y

Yang Feng

X

Xiaoyan Li

K

Kuande Wang

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) &amp; Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM) Nanjing University of Posts &amp; Telecommunications 9 Wenyuan Road Nanjing 210023 China

C

Chong Zhang

School of Chemistry

Y

Yang Zhou

X

Xuanzhao Lu

W

Wenlei Zhu

State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry, School of Environment

Y

Ying Wei

L

Linghai Xie

Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM)

W

Wei Huang