Highly Efficient Electroreduction of CO₂ to Methanol on Palladium-Copper Bimetallic Aerogels

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to CH₃ OH is of great interest. Aerogels have fine inorganic superstructure with high porosity and are known to be exceptional materials. Now a Pd-Cu bimetallic aerogel electrocatalyst has been developed for conversion of CO₂ into CH₃ OH. The current density and Faradaic efficiency of CH₃ OH can be as high as 31.8 mA cm^-2 and 80.0 % over the Pd₈₃ Cu₁₇ aerogel at a very low overpotential (0.24 V). The superior performance of the electrocatalyst results from efficient adsorption and stabilization of the CO₂ radical anion, high Pd⁰ /Pd^II and Cu^I +Cu⁰ /Cu^II ratios, and sufficient Pd/Cu grain boundaries of aerogel nanochains.