Heterogeneous Structure of Sn/SnO₂ Constructed via Phase Engineering for Efficient and Stable CO₂ Reduction

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) using tin-based catalysts is promising for CO2 conversion.
• Synergistic effects at interfaces between different tin oxidation states enhance catalytic performance.
• Synthesizing catalysts with abundant active heterogeneous interfaces remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a hybrid catalyst with abundant Sn/SnO2 heterogeneous interfaces for CO2RR.
• To investigate the role of these interfaces in promoting catalytic activity and stability.
• To demonstrate an effective interface engineering strategy for CO2RR electrocatalysts.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a hybrid catalyst by decorating nanosized SnS2 within a SnO2 matrix.
• In situ reduction of SnS2 to metallic tin, generating Sn/SnO2 heterogeneous interfaces.
• Electrochemical characterization to evaluate catalytic performance (current density, stability).

Main Results:

• The synthesized catalyst exhibited abundant Sn/SnO2 heterogeneous interfaces.
• Achieved a high current density of 200 mA·cm-2 at -0.86 V vs RHE.
• Demonstrated stable performance for over 20 hours, indicating catalyst durability.

Conclusions:

• The electronic modulation at Sn/SnO2 heterogeneous interfaces is crucial for high CO2RR performance.
• Interface engineering is a powerful strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts.
• The developed hybrid catalyst shows significant potential for efficient CO2-to-formate conversion.