Search for: All records

Atomically dispersed and nitrogen-coordinated single Ni sites ( i.e. , NiN x moieties) embedded in partially graphitized carbon have emerged as effective catalysts for CO 2 electroreduction to CO. However, much mystery remains behind the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that govern the overall catalytic CO 2 electrolysis performance. Here, we designed a high-performance single Ni site catalyst through elucidating the structural evolution of NiN x sites during thermal activation and other critical external factors ( e.g. , carbon particle sizes and Ni content) by using Ni–N–C model catalysts derived from nitrogen-doped carbon carbonized from a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8. The N coordination, metal–N bond length, and thermal wrinkling of carbon planes in Ni–N–C catalysts significantly depend on thermal temperatures. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the shortening Ni–N bonds in compressively strained NiN 4 sites could intrinsically enhance the CO 2 RR activity and selectivity of the Ni–N–C catalyst. Notably, the NiN 3 active sites with optimal local structures formed at higher temperatures ( e.g. , 1200 °C) are intrinsically more active and CO selective than NiN 4 , providing a new opportunity to design a highly active catalyst via populating NiN 3 sites with increased density. We also studied how morphological factors such as the carbon host particle size and Ni loading alter the final catalyst structure and performance. The implementation of this catalyst in an industrial flow-cell electrolyzer demonstrated an impressive performance for CO generation, achieving a current density of CO up to 726 mA cm −2 with faradaic efficiency of CO above 90%, representing one of the best catalysts for CO 2 reduction to CO. 

Sn‐based materials are identified as promising catalysts for the CO₂electroreduction (CO2RR) to formate (HCOO⁻). However, their insufficient selectivity and activity remain grand challenges. A new type of SnO₂nanosheet with simultaneous N dopants and oxygen vacancies (V_O‐rich N‐SnO₂NS) for promoting CO₂conversion to HCOO⁻is reported. Due to the likely synergistic effect of N dopant andV_O, theV_O‐rich N‐SnO₂NS exhibits high catalytic selectivity featured by an HCOO⁻Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 83% at−0.9 V and an FE of>90% for all C1 products (HCOO⁻and CO) at a wide potential range from −0.9 to−1.2 V. Low coordination Sn–N moieties are the active sites with optimal electronic and geometric structures regulated byV_Oand N dopants. Theoretical calculations elucidate that the reaction free energy of HCOO* protonation is decreased on theV_O‐rich N‐SnO₂NS, thus enhancing HCOO⁻selectivity. The weakened H* adsorption energy also inhibits the hydrogen evolution reaction, a dominant side reaction during the CO2RR. Furthermore, using the catalyst as the cathode, a spontaneous Galvanic Zn‐CO₂cell and a solar‐powered electrolysis process successfully demonstrated the efficient HCOO⁻generation through CO₂conversion and storage.