Oxygen atom activated ZIF-67/carbon cloth in plasma system for CO₂ reduction

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is crucial for mitigating climate change.
• Developing efficient electrocatalysts for CO2RR remains a significant challenge.
• Plasma catalysis offers a promising pathway for enhanced chemical transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize ZIF-67 on carbon cloth (CC) for in situ CO2RR.
• To evaluate the CO2RR performance of ZIF-67/CC electrodes in a plasma reactor.
• To investigate the influence of electrode structure and pollutants on CO2RR.

Main Methods:

• In situ growth of ZIF-67 on carbon cloth via a one-step method.
• Electrochemical evaluation of ZIF-67/CC electrodes in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor.
• Analysis of product concentrations (formic acid, formaldehyde) and assessment of performance under pollutant conditions.

Main Results:

• ZIF-67/CC electrodes achieved excellent CO2RR performance, producing 9.16 mmol L-1 formic acid and 0.068 mmol L-1 formaldehyde in 1 hour.
• The high performance is attributed to ZIF-67's high aspect ratio structure, large surface area, and hydrophobicity.
• Superoxide radical (·O2-) significantly impacts electrode performance.
• The electrode maintained good CO2RR performance in the presence of phenol, with increased product yields.

Conclusions:

• The ZIF-67/CC electrode is a highly effective catalyst for CO2RR in plasma reactors.
• The unique structural properties of ZIF-67 enhance CO2 adsorption and catalytic activity.
• The electrode demonstrates robustness against pollutants, opening avenues for practical applications in plasma catalysis.