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CO 2 Reduction to CO in Water: Carbon Nanotube–Gold Nanohybrid as a Selective and Efficient Electrocatalyst
Author(s) -
Huan Tran Ngoc,
Prakash Praveen,
Simon Philippe,
Rousse Gwenaëlle,
Xu X.,
Artero Vincent,
Gravel Edmond,
Doris Eric,
Fontecave Marc
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201600597
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , reversible hydrogen electrode , carbon nanotube , materials science , nanotube , electrolysis of water , electrolysis , colloidal gold , nanotechnology , faraday efficiency , chemical engineering , electrode , nanoparticle , carbon fibers , nanostructure , dispersity , aqueous solution , electrochemistry , chemistry , working electrode , organic chemistry , electrolyte , composite material , composite number , polymer chemistry , engineering
A gold‐based nanostructure has been demonstrated as promising materials for the selective electroreduction of CO 2 to CO in aqueous conditions. In this work, we present a carbon nanotube–gold nanohybrid as a selective and efficient electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO 2 in 0.5 m NaHCO 3 . The hybrid material exhibits remarkable activity with a current density of 10 mA cm −2 at −0.55 V versus standard hydrogen electrode with a stable CO production rate (0.52 μmol s −1 ) after 4 h electrolysis. Monodispersed gold nanoparticles anchored on carbon nanotubes through a layer‐by‐layer method allows very little Au loading and thus minimization of the cost of electrode fabrication with a mass activity up to 100 A g −1 at −0.55 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. It is 33 times higher than a previous report for monodisperse Au nanoparticles (3 A g −1 ) while ensuring selectivity (70 % faradaic yield of CO) at comparable reduction potential.