Adding value to CO₂: Carbene complexes of Earth-abundant nickel efficiently catalyze the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formate with high efficiency and selectivity and without formation of any by-products such as CO.
The modularity of the carbene ligand allows for rationally optimizing catalytic activity.

This work was carried out in the groups of Prof. Martin Albrecht and Prof. Peter Broekmann.

References:

• S. Bertini, M. Rahaman, A. Dutta, P. Schollhammer, A. V. Rudnev, F. Gloaguen, P. Broekmann, M. Albrecht;
  "Oxo-functionalised mesoionic NHC nickel complexes for selective electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to formate"
  Green Chem., 2021, 23(9), 3365-3373; doi:10.1039/D1GC00388G.