Electrocatalysts for Carbon Utilisation
1 October 2026
Affiliation
NTU
Focus topic
CO2-to-Chemicals and Fuels
Room-temperature synthesis of single-atom CO₂ reduction catalyst
Summary
Manufacturing cost is the appeal here: this catalyst assembles itself at room temperature, where comparable versions require high temperatures and complex processing.
The technology provides a simplified approach for manufacturing catalysts used in the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into value-added products. By reducing the complexity of catalyst preparation, the invention has the potential to lower production costs and improve scalability compared with conventional catalyst fabrication methods.
Laboratory-scale studies have demonstrated strong catalytic performance, including high conversion efficiency and operational stability over extended periods. The simplified production process may facilitate wider adoption of CO₂ conversion technologies by improving manufacturability and reducing barriers to scale-up.
Carbon abatement potential comes from converting CO₂ into chemical product, and scales with the catalyst's conversion rate and selectivity.
What makes this novel compared to best-in-class technology?
Spreading the active metal out as individual atoms is what makes this type of catalyst effective, but it normally requires high temperatures and complex processing. Here the structure assembles itself at room temperature in three straightforward steps, which should make manufacturing cheaper and easier to scale.
TRL Level
1-3
Relevant for
CO₂ electrolyser developers, chemical producers seeking CO₂-derived feedstocks, catalyst manufacturers
About
Inventors: Wu Bin, Xu Zhichuan, Song Pengfei
Affiliation: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Contact NTU for licensing opportunities and more information.
Please quote ID ref [2026-166] in your email.