CO₂ Electroreduction to CO over Ga@Ag Core-Shell Catalysts via Interfacial Electron Modulation.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Developing efficient catalysts for CO2 electroreduction is crucial for sustainable carbon utilization.
• Existing catalysts often face challenges in efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel Ag-coated Ga core-shell (Ga@Ag) catalyst.
• To evaluate the performance of the Ga@Ag catalyst for CO2 electroreduction to CO.
• To investigate the role of interfacial electron coupling in enhancing catalytic activity and selectivity.

Main Methods:

• Chemical reduction deposition for Ga@Ag catalyst synthesis.
• Structural characterization using advanced techniques (e.g., electron microscopy, spectroscopy).
• Electrochemical measurements in tetrabutylammonium chloride/acetonitrile electrolyte.

Main Results:

• Formation of a uniform Ga(core)/Ag(shell) architecture with strong interfacial electron coupling.
• Ga@Ag catalyst demonstrated a more positive onset potential and higher CO partial current density compared to Ag powder.
• Achieved a remarkable Faradaic efficiency of 92.3% for CO production at -2.4 V (vs SHE).

Conclusions:

• The Ga@Ag core-shell catalyst effectively promotes CO2 activation and enhances CO selectivity.
• Interfacial electron coupling is key to the superior performance of Ga@Ag catalysts.
• This study offers insights for designing advanced core-shell electrocatalysts for efficient CO2-to-CO conversion.