Electron‐rich SnO2 promote CO2 activation for stable electrocatalytic CO2 reduction
Chenyue Li, Fei Liu, Shuo Geng, Rongqian Ning, Yifan Yang, Lixiong Xu, Jun Ma, Mengqin Yao, Xiaodan Wang
Abstract
Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to formate offers a promising route for carbon neutralization, but its reactivity is largely compromised due to the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) accompanying the activation of CO 2 at high potentials. Herein, we modulated the charge density around Sn atoms by introducing La 2 Sn 2 O 7 into SnO 2 , with the rich grain boundaries and fast electron transport of the heterostructure promoting CO 2 reduction. Combined theoretical calculations and in situ electrochemical attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) characterization revealed enhanced activation of CO 2 and adsorption of *OCHO intermediates by the constructed electron-rich SnO 2 . During the CO 2 RR process over 5 % La 2 Sn 2 O 7 /SnO 2 catalyst, the Sn oxidation state can be effectively stabilized by the oxygen vacancies and amorphous phases appearing around SnO 2 , with a FE of 70.7 % for HCOOH at −0.9 V vs. RHE and stable electrolysis of 39 h. This work provides an ideal approach for the development of highly stable Sn-based electrocatalysts .