SrO-layer insertion in Ruddlesden-Popper Sn-based perovskite enables efficient CO₂ electroreduction towards formate

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Tin (Sn)-based oxides are promising for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) but suffer from reductive transformation.
• Developing stable and selective catalysts is crucial for efficient CO2 conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the catalytic performance of Sr2SnO4, a Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) perovskite, for CO2RR.
• To understand the structural and electronic factors governing the high selectivity and stability of Sr2SnO4.

Main Methods:

• Electrochemical characterization of Sr2SnO4 electrocatalyst for CO2RR.
• Analysis of structural stability and electronic properties under reaction conditions.

Main Results:

• Sr2SnO4 demonstrated high faradaic efficiency (83.7%) for formate (HCOO-) production at -1.08 V vs. RHE.
• The catalyst maintained stability for over 24 hours.
• Structural modifications, including SrO-layer insertion, optimized Sn active sites and enhanced *OCHO binding energy, leading to high HCOO- selectivity.

Conclusions:

• The RP perovskite structure of Sr2SnO4 provides exceptional stability during CO2RR due to interlayer interactions.
• This work offers guidelines for designing highly selective perovskite electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction.