Selectivity switching between CO and formate for CO2 reduction on Sb modified amorphous ZnO by electronic effect
Hongyu Chen, Shoufu Cao, Lu Wang, Xiaojing Lin, Qiuying Zhu, Yizhu Shang, Shuxian Wei, Siyuan Liu, Zhaojie Wang, Baojun Wei, Xiaoqing Lü
Abstract
The adjustable intermediate binding capacity in electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction is critical for varying the reaction pathways to desired products. Herein, we first report the synthesis of boron-doped amorphous zinc oxide with (B-a-ZnO-Sb) or without antimony nanoparticles embedding (B-a-ZnO) via one-step wet chemical method, which is easy to scale up by enlarging the vessel and increasing feeding. Sb successfully realizes the product switching from CO on B-a-ZnO to formate on B-a-ZnO-Sb. Both experimental and theoretical results reveal that Sb weakens the charge interaction on Zn atoms. Based on the moderate adsorption of ⋆COOH and strong adsorption of ⋆OCHO and ⋆HCOOH for B-a-ZnO, the foreign Sb weakens the adsorption of these intermediates and brings about a favor formate production instead of CO. This work points out a new direction for the synthesis of amorphous ZnO-based catalysts and provides advanced insights into the aimed selectivity switch for CO 2 reduction by electronic effect.