In-situ reconstruction of active bismuth for enhanced CO2 electroreduction to formate
Chen‐Chen Weng, Cheng Wang, Yang Song, Yu‐Xiao Zhang, Kang Zou, Hongwu Chen, Xue Yang, Wei Lin
Abstract
The electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to carbon-based fuels represents a promising strategy for carbon neutrality. Bi-based materials have emerged as leading candidates for CO 2 RR towards formate. However, dynamic reconstruction under actual CO 2 RR conduction imposes a challenge for the well-designed pristine Bi-based catalyst to deliver electrocatalytic activity. Herein, we report a high-efficient Bi catalyst which is in-situ formed via electrochemical activation of NO 3 − modulated Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 during CO 2 RR. The in-situ and ex-situ characterizations demonstrate that a directional reconstruction has been achieved under NO 3 − adjustment, in which the reinforced configuration focuses on the ordered Bi planar surface. The peak Faradaic efficiency for formate (FE HCOO − ) of 97 % is achieved at −0.9 V vs . RHE and a potential region with FE HCOO − over 90 % ranges from −0.7 to −1.1 V. Additionally, the formate partial current density reaches up to 329 mA cm −2 in a gas diffusion electrode configuration. The outstanding durability is evidenced through its stable and efficient formate production over 45 h. Moreover, the in-situ attenuated total reflection infrared and Raman analysis reveals that the *OCHO is the key intermediate for CO 2 RR towards formate and the in-situ generated Bi renders the favorable interaction with *OCHO intermediate, thus promoting CO 2 RR performance.