Aqueous CO₂ Reduction with High Efficiency Using α-Co(OH)₂ -Supported Atomic Ir Electrocatalysts.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) is crucial for sustainable energy storage and creating an artificial carbon cycle.
• Developing efficient electrocatalysts is key to converting CO2 into valuable chemical feedstocks and fuels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of atomic iridium (Ir) as an electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction.
• To evaluate the performance of atomic Ir supported on α-cobalt hydroxide (α-Co(OH)2) for CO2 electroreduction.

Main Methods:

• Electrochemical synthesis of atomic Ir electrocatalyst supported on α-Co(OH)2.
• Electrocatalytic performance testing in aqueous electrolyte for CO2 reduction.
• Characterization of the catalyst's electrochemical active surface area and conductivity.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high faradaic efficiency of 97.6% for CO production.
• Obtained a record turnover frequency (TOF) of 38290 h⁻¹ for CO2 reduction.
• The α-Co(OH)2 support significantly increased the electrochemical active area and conductivity compared to Ir nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• Atomic Ir electrocatalysts supported on α-Co(OH)2 demonstrate superior activity and stability for CO2 reduction.
• The enhanced performance is attributed to increased electrochemical active area, improved conductivity, and efficient stabilization of the CO2 radical anion intermediate.
• This work presents a promising pathway for efficient electrochemical CO2 conversion.