Ni nanoparticle-decorated-MnO2 nanodendrites as highly selective and efficient catalysts for CO2 electroreduction

Abstract

Ni nanoparticle-decorated-MnO₂ nanodendrites supported on carbon fibers (Ni NPs/MnO₂ NDs-CFs) are reported as efficient electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction to formate, and they exhibit low CO₂/HCOO⁻ reduction overpotential, superior catalytic activity, high formate selectivity and high faradaic efficiency of over 85%. Further studies indicate that the strong electronic interactions between Ni and MnO₂ in Ni NPs/MnO₂ NDs-CFs can realize high hydrogen storage capacity and low energy barriers of the intermediates and products and can obviously promote the selective electroreduction of CO₂ to formate. Furthermore, the electronic interactions induced by metal–metal oxide composites will promote the development of next generation high-performance catalysts for CO₂ reduction.