In Situ Bismuth Nanosheet Assembly for Highly Selective Electrocatalytic CO₂ Reduction to Formate

Abstract

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) into value‐added fuels using an electrochemical method has been regarded as a compelling sustainable energy conversion technology. However, high‐performance electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) with high formate selectivity and good stability need to be improved. Earth‐abundant Bi has been demonstrated to be active for CO2RR to formate. Herein, we fabricated an extremely active and selective bismuth nanosheet (Bi‐NSs) assembly via an in situ electrochemical transformation of (BiO)2CO3 nanostructures. The as‐prepared material exhibits high activity and selectivity for CO2RR to formate, with nearly 94% faradaic efficiency at −1.03 V (versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE)) and stable selectivity (>90%) in a large potential window ranging from −0.83 to −1.18 V (vs. RHE) and excellent durability during 12 h continuous electrolysis. In addition, the Bi‐NSs based CO2RR/methanol oxidation reaction (CO2RR/MOR) electrolytic system for overall CO2 splitting was constructed, evidencing the feasibility of its practical implementation.

Electro‐Synthesis of Organic Compounds with Heterogeneous Catalysis

“…Using in situ electrochemical transformations of (BiO) 2 CO 3 nanostructures, Peng et al developed an extremely active and selective Bi‐NSs assembly, which reached nearly 94% FE at −1.03 V (vs RHE) and stable selectivity (>90%) within a large potential window ranging from −0.83 to −1.18 V (vs RHE), as well as excellent durability of 12 h towards formate. [ 204 ] An edible sponge‐like Bi 2 O 3 with unique porous morphology and low crystallinity was synthesized, which was in situ reconstructed into 2D NSs containing metallic Bi and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 , and served as the active species for eCO 2 RR to formate. [ 205 ] Wang et al examined the reaction performance and intrinsic properties of functionalized Bi nanosheets (Bi‐NHS) electrocatalysts by adding 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane ( Figure a).…”

Coupling Value‐Added Anodic Reactions with Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

“…Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) to generate formate is the simplest and most reported alcohol oxidation reaction to couple with CO 2 RR. The recent developments are summarized in Table 1 [30,31,37,61–68] …”

“…As mentioned in the Introduction, if an electrocatalyst for selective CO 2 reduction to formate is used in the cathode, the concurrent production of formate can be realized (Figure 3a), eliminating the need for separate downstream purification of products from two sides [30,31,37,61–66] . For example, by using aligned InS nanorods and (oxy)hydroxide@np‐Ni 3 P as the cathode and anode catalysts, Zhang et al.…”

Supported Bimetallic Trimers Fe2M@NG: Triple-Atom Catalysts for CO2 Electroreduction

“… 4 The massive consumption of these carbonaceous substances results in the continuous increase and accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere. 5 There are mainly three strategies to prevent increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration: prohibition of CO 2 release, CO 2 storage, and CO 2 conversion. 6 Among them, the CO 2 conversion technology has attracted the attention as the most promising approach to slow down or even reverse the rising trend of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.…”

“…For centuries, the utilization of fossil fuels, coal, oil, and natural gas has led to the rapid development of human society. − However, the ever-increasing energy demands and serious environmental problems require the “optimization” of these traditional energy sources . The massive consumption of these carbonaceous substances results in the continuous increase and accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere . There are mainly three strategies to prevent increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration: prohibition of CO 2 release, CO 2 storage, and CO 2 conversion .…”