Electrospinning Highly Dispersed Ru Nanoparticle-Embedded Carbon Nanofibers Boost CO₂ Reduction in a H₂/CO₂ Fuel Cell

A H₂/CO₂ fuel cell is a promising device that can convert CO₂ into hydrocarbon fuel with electricity generation. Herein, a facile electrospinning method has been used to synthesize the embedded Ru-CNF catalyst in which Ru nanoparticles are dispersed homogeneously within N-doped carbon nanofibers. This catalyst exhibits a high CH₄ production rate of 308.46 μmol g_cat^-1 h^-1 at 170 °C, which is superior to that of the Ru/CNF (242.53 μmol g_cat^-1 h^-1) and Ru/CNT (194.24 μmol g_cat^-1 h^-1). The enhanced CO₂RR performance of Ru-CNF is ascribed to the well-distributed Ru nanoparticles within the CNF matrix and synergistic effect of Ru sites with N species, which results in forming the increased CO₂RR active sites, hence improving the catalytic activity. Simultaneously, it can achieve a peak power density of 1.8 W m^-2 on the strength of anodic (H₂ oxidation) and cathodic (CO₂ reduction and H₂ evolution) reactions with remarkable stability. Such findings give a theoretical basis of CO₂RR in the H₂/CO₂ fuel cell system, which could hold great value to further develop the high-efficiency catalysts for CO₂ reduction.