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Sn-Decorated Cu/Cu2O Electrodes Enable Selective CO2 Reduction to Formic Acid under Realistic Flue Gas Streams
Allef Leite1,2, Eduardo Henrique Dias1,3, Damilola Awotoye4
1National Nanotechnology Laboratory for Agribusiness (LNNA), Embrapa Instrumentation, São Carlos, São Paulo 13560-970, Brazil.
ACS Applied Energy Materials
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Tin-decorated copper oxide electrodes efficiently convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid, even with simulated flue gas. This research highlights the potential for CO2 utilization in challenging industrial conditions.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) is crucial for sustainable chemical synthesis.
- Practical applications require catalysts that function with impure CO2 sources like flue gases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate tin (Sn)-decorated copper oxide (Cu/Cu2O) electrodes for formic acid synthesis.
- To evaluate catalyst performance under both pure CO2 and simulated flue gas conditions.
Main Methods:
- Scalable electrodeposition synthesis of Sn-modified Cu/Cu2O electrodes.
- Electrochemical reduction of CO2 under varying gas compositions.
- Surface characterization using Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy.
Main Results:
- Flue gas exposure induced electrode restructuring, including surface roughening and carbonate formation.
- Optimal performance under pure CO2: 80% Faradaic efficiency for formic acid at 370 μmol cm-2 h-1.
- High selectivity (90% Faradaic efficiency) for formic acid under simulated flue gas, despite lower CO2 partial pressure.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial Sn-Cu structures enable selective CO2 reduction (CO2RR) even in complex gas streams.
- Demonstrated feasibility of using modified electrodes with realistic flue gas, highlighting opportunities and limitations for industrial CO2 utilization.
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