• Nano-Micro Letters
  • Vol. 16, Issue 1, 050 (2024)
Min Zhang1, Aihui Cao2, Yucui Xiang1, Chaogang Ban1..., Guang Han3,4,*, Junjie Ding1, Li-Yong Gan1,4,5,** and Xiaoyuan Zhou1,4,5,***|Show fewer author(s)
Author Affiliations
  • 1College of Physics and Center of Quantum Materials and Devices, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, People’s Republic of China
  • 2State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Fuzhou 350002, People’s Republic of China
  • 3College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People’s Republic of China
  • 4Institute of New Energy Storage Materials and Equipment, Chongqing, 401135, People’s Republic of China
  • 5State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People’s Republic of China
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    DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01264-6 Cite this Article
    Min Zhang, Aihui Cao, Yucui Xiang, Chaogang Ban, Guang Han, Junjie Ding, Li-Yong Gan, Xiaoyuan Zhou. Strongly Coupled Ag/Sn–SnO2 Nanosheets Toward CO2 Electroreduction to Pure HCOOH Solutions at Ampere-Level Current[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 050 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 converts intermittent renewable electricity into value-added liquid products with an enticing prospect, but its practical application is hampered due to the lack of high-performance electrocatalysts. Herein, we elaborately design and develop strongly coupled nanosheets composed of Ag nanoparticles and Sn–SnO2 grains, designated as Ag/Sn–SnO2 nanosheets (NSs), which possess optimized electronic structure, high electrical conductivity, and more accessible sites. As a result, such a catalyst exhibits unprecedented catalytic performance toward CO2-to-formate conversion with near-unity faradaic efficiency (≥ 90%), ultrahigh partial current density (2,000 mA cm-2), and superior long-term stability (200 mA cm-2, 200 h), surpassing the reported catalysts of CO2 electroreduction to formate. Additionally, in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectra combined with theoretical calculations revealed that electron-enriched Sn sites on Ag/Sn–SnO2 NSs not only promote the formation of *OCHO and alleviate the energy barriers of *OCHO to *HCOOH, but also impede the desorption of H*. Notably, the Ag/Sn–SnO2 NSs as the cathode in a membrane electrode assembly with porous solid electrolyte layer reactor can continuously produce ~ 0.12 M pure HCOOH solution at 100 mA cm-2 over 200 h. This work may inspire further development of advanced electrocatalysts and innovative device systems for promoting practical application of producing liquid fuels from CO2.
    Min Zhang, Aihui Cao, Yucui Xiang, Chaogang Ban, Guang Han, Junjie Ding, Li-Yong Gan, Xiaoyuan Zhou. Strongly Coupled Ag/Sn–SnO2 Nanosheets Toward CO2 Electroreduction to Pure HCOOH Solutions at Ampere-Level Current[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 050
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