Issue 3, 2021

When amine-based conducting polymers meet Au nanoparticles: suppressing H2 evolution and promoting the selective electroreduction of CO2 to CO at low overpotentials

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a promising method to produce reusable carbon forms from renewable resources. Herein, we propose a facile strategy for improving CO selectivity by designing an amine-based conducting polymer for supporting Au nanoparticles (Au/PANI) that is then used as an electrocatalyst for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. The oxidized quinonoid imine (QI) units and reduced benzenoid amine (BA) units in polyaniline (PANI) offer a possible approach for combining with metal ions. The size and distribution of Au NPs on PANI can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of Au ions. Au/PANI prepared with 1.0 mM Au ions shows a maximum CO faradaic efficiency (FECO) of 90.32% at −0.7 V vs. RHE when compared with Au NPs coupled with PANI-derived N-doped carbon nanofibers (Au/NCNFs) (FECO of 33.85% at −0.7 V vs. RHE); this result suggests that PANI plays a significant role in improving CO selectivity. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy and the temperature programmed desorption of CO2 (CO2-TPD) indicate that the N–H groups of PANI can catch CO2 and suppress H2 evolution.

Graphical abstract: When amine-based conducting polymers meet Au nanoparticles: suppressing H2 evolution and promoting the selective electroreduction of CO2 to CO at low overpotentials

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Dec 2020
Accepted
23 Dec 2020
First published
23 Dec 2020

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2021,5, 779-786

When amine-based conducting polymers meet Au nanoparticles: suppressing H2 evolution and promoting the selective electroreduction of CO2 to CO at low overpotentials

J. Yu, H. Zhu, J. Hao, H. Li, H. Li, S. Lu and M. Du, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2021, 5, 779 DOI: 10.1039/D0SE01848A

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