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Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
The Critical Role of Initial/Operando Oxygen Loading in General Bismuth-Based Catalysts for Electroreduction of
Shengtang Liu1, Bailin Tian1, Xinzhu Wang1,2
1Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
Abstract:
Operando reconstruction of solid catalyst into a distinct active state frequently occurs during electrocatalytic processes. The correlation between initial and operando states, if ever existing, is critical for the understanding and precise design of a catalytic system. Inspired by recently established intermediate metallic state of Bi-based catalysts during electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR), here we investigate a series of Bi oxide catalysts (Bi, Bi2O3, BiO2) and demonstrate that the operando surface/subsurface oxygen loading, positively correlated to the initial oxygen content, plays a critical role in determining Bi-based CO2RR performance. Higher initial oxygen loading indicates a better electrocatalytic efficiency. Further analysis shows that this conclusion generally applies to all Bi-based electrocatalysts reported up to date. Following this principle, cost-effective BiO2 nanocrystals demonstrated the highest formate Faradaic efficiency (FE) and current density compared to Bi/Bi2O3, further allowing a pair-electrolysis system with 800 mA/cm2 current density and an overall 175% FE for formate production.
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