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Electrocatalytic Reduction of Gaseous CO 2 to CO on Sn/Cu‐Nanofiber‐Based Gas Diffusion Electrodes
Author(s) -
Ju Wenbo,
Jiang Fuze,
Ma Huan,
Pan Zhengyuan,
Zhao YiBo,
Pagani Francesco,
Rentsch Daniel,
Wang Jing,
Battaglia Corsin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201901514
Subject(s) - materials science , gas diffusion electrode , faraday efficiency , electrolyte , aqueous solution , chemical engineering , polyvinylidene fluoride , gaseous diffusion , catalysis , diffusion , electrode , current density , nanofiber , inorganic chemistry , electrocatalyst , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , thermodynamics
Earth‐abundant Sn/Cu catalysts are highly selective for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to CO in aqueous electrolytes. However, CO 2 mass transport limitations, resulting from the low solubility of CO 2 in water, so far limit the CO partial current density for Sn/Cu catalysts to about 10 mA cm −2 . Here, a freestanding gas diffusion electrode design based on Sn‐decorated Cu‐coated electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers is demonstrated. The use of gaseous CO 2 as a feedstock alleviates mass transport limitations, resulting in high CO partial current densities above 100 mA cm −2 , while maintaining high CO faradaic efficiencies above 80%. These results represent an important step toward an economically viable pathway to CO 2 reduction.