Lanthanide dopant-driven Bi-O covalency modification for optimizing microenvironment and promoting CO₂ electrolysis...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Optimizing the gas-liquid-solid interface is crucial for enhancing CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) performance.
• Precise regulation of CO2 adsorption, intermediate binding, and H2O behavior is necessary for efficient CO2RR.
• Limitations in CO2 mass transfer and intermediate adsorption hinder CO2RR efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a strategy for manipulating the gas-liquid-solid interface microenvironment for improved CO2RR.
• To investigate the effect of lanthanide doping on the electronic structure of Bi2O2CO3 for CO2RR.
• To evaluate the CO2RR performance of Sm-doped Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Sm-doped Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets via lanthanide doping.
• Electrochemical characterization in an H-type cell.
• Analysis of Faraday efficiency for formate generation over a range of potentials.

Main Results:

• Sm-doped Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets successfully regulated the gas-liquid-solid three-phase interface.
• The electrocatalyst demonstrated a Faraday efficiency exceeding 90% for formate generation.
• High efficiency was observed over a wide potential range (-1.0 to -1.4 V vs. RHE).

Conclusions:

• Lanthanide doping provides an effective strategy to tune the electronic structure and manipulate the interfacial microenvironment.
• Sm-doped Bi2O2CO3 is a promising electrocatalyst for efficient CO2RR to formate.
• This work offers insights into designing catalysts for enhanced CO2RR by controlling interfacial properties.