La³⁺-Substituted BaSnO₃ Perovskite as a Robust Electrocatalyst for Selective CO₂ Reduction to Formate

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Developing efficient catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO₂) electroreduction is vital for carbon neutrality.
• Effective strategies for modifying tin-based perovskite oxides for enhanced CO₂ electroreduction are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of La³⁺ ion incorporation into Sn-based perovskite oxides using microwave heating.
• To enhance the electrocatalytic performance for CO₂ reduction to formate.

Main Methods:

• Microwave heating for La³⁺ ion incorporation into BaSnO₃.
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS).
• Electrochemical measurements (Tafel analysis, impedance spectroscopy), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, in situ Raman spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• La³⁺ substitution modulated the Sn-O bond distance in BaSnO₃, enriching local charge density.
• Enhanced CO₂ adsorption and improved electron transfer kinetics were observed.
• Significant improvement in formate Faradaic efficiency was achieved, with preserved structural integrity and Sn valence states.

Conclusions:

• La³⁺ incorporation is an effective strategy for enhancing Sn-based perovskite electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction.
• The study provides fundamental mechanistic insights into CO₂ reduction on perovskite electrocatalysts.
• A framework for designing advanced tin-based electrocatalysts is established.