-Direct Production of Isopropyl Alcohol at Room Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure... Maximizing Efficiency by Combining Two Chemical Reactions into One

• -Cost Reduction of $737 per Ton Compared to Existing Thermocatalytic Processes... Green Light for Commercialization of Carbon Utilization 'Power-to-Chemicals'
• -Published in ‘Applied Catalysis B: Environment & Energy (IF=19.7)’, a Renowned International Journal in the Field of Environmental Engineering
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Image Description: (From left) Prof. Kim Jun-young of the Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering at The Catholic University of Korea; Schematic diagram of the dual reaction pathway of the 'Ce(OH)x/Ni2P catalyst' converting carbon dioxide into isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol).

A joint research team led by Prof. Kim Jun-young of the Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering at The Catholic University of Korea (President Choi Jun-gyu)—in collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Chonnam National University, and Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute—has developed a high-efficiency catalyst technology that directly converts carbon dioxide, the main culprit of the climate crisis, into isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol), a high-value chemical raw material.

While carbon utilization technologies for carbon neutrality are attracting worldwide attention, research to directly synthesize isopropyl alcohol—a key solvent in the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries—from carbon dioxide has been actively underway. However, this required selectively coupling complex carbon intermediates, making it extremely difficult to achieve both reaction speed and energy efficiency simultaneously. In particular, previous studies required carbon dioxide supersaturation conditions as a prerequisite, presenting clear limitations for commercialization at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

The joint research team focused on solving this problem by developing a new ‘Ce(OH)x/Ni2P catalyst’ that combines cerium hydroxide (Ce(OH)x) onto the surface of nickel phosphide (Ni2P). The core of this catalyst lies in inducing electronic redistribution on a nanometer-scale surface, allowing two different reactions to cooperate without conflict. The region adjacent to cerium was designed to form a low-valence active site (Niδ+) that stabilizes a specific reaction pathway (*OCHO), while the remaining nickel phosphide region maintains the existing pathway (*COOH) to maximize efficiency.

As these two controlled reaction pathways connected like a precise assembly line, Aldol condensation and Fischer–Tropsch-like carbon insertion reactions—which efficiently couple carbon intermediates—proceeded smoothly, promoting the generation of isopropyl alcohol. Through this, a Faradaic efficiency of 21.0% and an energy efficiency of 17.3% were achieved even under a very low potential of -0.02 V (vs. RHE) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, demonstrating excellent stability with no performance degradation even during 48 hours of continuous operation.

Furthermore, the research team clearly proved the complex reaction mechanism through advanced real-time (in situ) spectroscopic analysis equipment and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, a computer simulation. In particular, a techno-economic analysis assuming a daily production of 100 tons showed that the new process could save approximately $737 per ton compared to existing thermocatalytic processes, confirming its outstanding potential for commercialization.

This joint research achievement, in which Prof. Kim Jun-young contributed as a co-first author by designing research methodologies, conducting experiments and quantitative analyses, and evaluating techno-economics, was published in Applied Catalysis B: Environment & Energy (IF=19.7), a world-renowned authority in environmental engineering. The title of the paper is ‘Interfacial Electronic Polarization–Induced Bifurcated CO2 Electroreduction Pathways to 2-Propanol on Ce(OH)x/Ni2P’.

Prof. Kim Jun-young of the Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering at The Catholic University of Korea stated, "This study holds great significance in that it presents a new electrocatalyst design principle that controls reaction pathways using nanoscale electronic heterogeneity." He added, "As energy is saved through a room-temperature and atmospheric-pressure process, it is expected to contribute to the industrialization of Power-to-Chemicals based on renewable electricity and to strengthening national carbon-neutral technology competitiveness in the future."

(Figure) Schematic diagram of the dual reaction pathway where the *OCHO pathway and *COOH pathway operate simultaneously at the Ce(OH)x/Ni2P interface, converting carbon dioxide into 2-propanol through Aldol condensation and Fischer–Tropsch-like carbon insertion reactions.