Efficient electrocatalytic CO2 conversion into formate with AlxBiyOz nanorods in a wide potential window

Abstract

Electrocatalytic CO₂ conversion into value-added fuels to form a sustainable recycling system is desirable but is still confronted with a problem about the lack of highly active electrocatalysts. Herein, novel Al_xBi_yO_z nanorods were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method for the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). The obtained sample exhibits high electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ conversion with a faradaic efficiency (FE) of above 90% to formate under a wide potential window from −0.79 V to −1.29 V vs. RHE. Particularly, a FE to formate of up to 97.5% can be achieved at −1.19 V vs. RHE. Furthermore, it shows great stability during the 10 h electrolysis at −0.79 V vs. RHE. It is believed that the introduction of Al species could modulate the electronic configuration of Bi₂O₃, together with the enlarged surface area and exposed (2 0 1) crystal plane contributing to the enhanced adsorption and activation capability of CO₂, which could mainly account for the high CO₂RR performance.