Selective CO₂ electroreduction to formate over a Cu-based catalyst in S^2--containing electrolyte

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) is a promising pathway for sustainable chemical synthesis.
• Developing efficient and selective catalysts for CO2 electroreduction remains a significant challenge.
• Copper-based catalysts have shown potential for CO2 conversion, but durability and efficiency need improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a Cu2O-derived catalyst for selective and durable electroreduction of CO2 to formate.
• To investigate the performance of the catalyst in a S2-containing electrolyte and a flow cell setup.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a Cu2O-derived catalyst.
• Electrochemical characterization including cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.
• Performance evaluation in a flow cell with a sulfide-containing electrolyte.

Main Results:

• The Cu2O-derived catalyst selectively electroreduces CO2 to formate.
• A maximum faradaic efficiency of 74% for formate production was achieved in a S2-containing electrolyte.
• The catalyst demonstrated a high formate partial current density of up to 110 mA cm-2 in a flow cell, indicating excellent durability and activity.

Conclusions:

• Cu2O-derived catalysts are effective for selective and durable electroreduction of CO2 to formate.
• The use of a S2-containing electrolyte and flow cell configuration enhances catalyst performance.
• This work presents a viable strategy for efficient CO2 conversion into valuable chemical feedstocks.