Quasi-square-shaped cadmium hydroxide nanocatalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction with high efficiency

Chunjun Chen; Xupeng Yan; Ruizhi Wu; Yahui Wu; Qinggong Zhu; Minqiang Hou; Zhaofu Zhang; Honglei Fan; Jun Ma; Yuying Huang; Jingyuan Ma; Xiaofu Sun; Longfei Lin; Shoujie Liu; Buxing Han

doi:10.1039/D1SC02328D

Quasi-square-shaped cadmium hydroxide nanocatalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction with high efficiency†

Chunjun Chen,

^ab Xupeng Yan,^ab Ruizhi Wu,^ab Yahui Wu,^ab Qinggong Zhu,^a Minqiang Hou,^a Zhaofu Zhang,

^a Honglei Fan,

^a Jun Ma,^a Yuying Huang,^e Jingyuan Ma,^e Xiaofu Sun,

*^ab Longfei Lin,

*^a Shoujie Liu

*^cd and Buxing Han

*^abf

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
E-mail: hanbx@iccas.ac.cn, sunxiaofu@iccas.ac.cn, linlongfei@iccas.ac.cn

^b University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

^c Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou 515063, China

^d College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
E-mail: jiesliu@ahnu.edu.cn

^e Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Zhangjiang Laboratory (SSRF, ZJLab), Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, China

^f Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China

Abstract

Powered by a renewable electricity source, electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction is a promising solution to facilitate the carbon balance. However, it is still a challenge to achieve a desired product with commercial current density and high efficiency. Herein we designed quasi-square-shaped cadmium hydroxide nanocatalysts for CO₂ electroreduction to CO. It was discovered that the catalyst is very active and selective for the reaction. The current density could be as high as 200 mA cm⁻² with a nearly 100% selectivity in a commonly used H-type cell using the ionic liquid-based electrolyte. In addition, the faradaic efficiency of CO could reach 90% at a very low overpotential of 100 mV. Density functional theory studies and control experiments reveal that the outstanding performance of the catalyst was attributed to its unique structure. It not only provides low Cd–O coordination, but also exposes high activity (002) facet, which requires lower energy for the formation of CO. Besides, the high concentration of CO can be achieved from the low concentration CO₂via an adsorption-electrolysis device.

This article is part of the themed collection: In celebration of Chinese New Year, 2022

Chemical Science

Quasi-square-shaped cadmium hydroxide nanocatalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction with high efficiency†

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