Scientists Propose New Strategy for CO<sub>2</sub> Electrochemical Reduction----Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Scientists Propose New Strategy for CO₂ Electrochemical Reduction

Mar 30, 2020

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission has become a global problem. Efficient conversion of CO₂ into value-added liquid fuels is one method to fix CO₂, and it can alleviate the growing shortage of non-renewable fossil fuels at the same time.

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to value-added products has obtained attention worldwide in recent years owing to its mild reaction conditions and high energy efficiency. However, it remains a challenge to achieve a large current density with a high Faraday efficiency.

Recently, a research team led by Prof. LIU Licheng from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed a new strategy for improving the catalytic activity of transition metal catalysts for CO₂ electrocatalytic reduction.

The researchers found that directly coating the amino-functionalized carbon layer can effectively regulate the electronic structure of the non-precious metal catalyst SnS.

This approach would accelerate the electron conduction efficiency and enhance the adsorption energies of OCHO* and CO₂*, increasing the reaction current density and formate production.

The related findings were published in Advanced Energy Materials. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Dalian National Laboratory For Clean Energy Cooperation Fund.

The differential charge diagram of SnS/Aminated-C for (a) and the partial current density of formate production for SnS and SnS/Aminated-C for (b) (Image by CHEN Zhipeng)