Photoelectrocatalytic Reduction of CO₂ to Syngas via SnO_x‐Enhanced Cu₂O Nanowires Photocathodes

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of CO2 with H2O into syngas is an effective way to relieve the greenhouse effect and produce valuable chemicals. In this study, controllable PEC reduction of CO2 with H2O to syngas is achieved by the Cu2O‐SnOx hybrid nanowires (NWs) photocathode, which can effectively produce the mixture of syngas (CO and H2) with a total Faradaic efficiency of 90.32% at −0.35 V versus RHE. In addition, the CO/H2 ratio of syngas can be adjusted in a wide range from 2.2:1 to 4.6:1. The investigations of linear sweep voltammetry, incident photon to current efficiency, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and temperature programmed desorption indicate that the charge transfer efficiency and CO2 adsorption capacity are highly enhanced by the electrodeposition of SnOx on the Cu2O NWs electrode. In situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy spectra results indicate that visible light irradiation can accelerate the accumulation of CO2 reduction intermediates and thus facilitate the release of CO. This study provides an available way for the rational development of high‐performance PEC systems for CO2 reduction to valuable carbon‐based compounds, as well as a new strategy for atmospheric CO2 treatment.

Advances in Biomimetic Photoelectrocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

“…The Cu 2 O has strong photocorrosivity, which significantly affects the stability of catalysts. Zhang et al loaded SnO x onto Cu 2 O nanowires (NWs) as photocathode for PEC reduction of CO 2 to CO, which maintained long‐term stability within 12 h. [ 89 ] Third, the unstable catalyst material can be encapsulated within the stable material to improve the stability of the catalyst. Wu et al encapsulated Cu 2 O nanowires in MOFs of Cu 3 (BTC) 2 (BTC = 1,3,5‐benzene tricarboxylate) for CO 2 reduction.…”

Plasmonic Ag-decorated Cu2O nanowires for boosting photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products

“…16 Notably, the peaks of Cu 2p shift to higher binding energy position after loading the Ag NPs, which may be caused by the transfer of electrons from Cu 2 O to Ag. 17 For the O 1s spectrum, the peaks at 530.15 eV and 531.2 eV are attributed to the lattice oxygen and vacancy oxygen in Cu 2 O (Fig. S4b, ESI †), respectively.…”

Synergistic effect of PtNi alloy loading on TiB2 to construct SMSI catalysing formic acid dehydrogenation

“…cis -HCOOH is more conducive to the adsorption of the bridge structure formed on the surface of the catalyst, and this unique bridge structure is the precursor of CO 2 . The intensity of the carbonate peaks (1463 cm −1 ) 41 was also found to have increased slightly, which can be explained by the formation of CO 2 from FA dehydrogenation and its subsequent reaction with water molecules or surface oxide species. What’s more, the intensity of the characteristic bands of (2338 cm −1 ) increases and CO* (2170 cm −1 ) cannot be seen, which further proves that the Pt 3 Ni 8 /TiB 2 catalyst has good selectivity for dehydrogenation of FA.…”