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A Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Catalyst for Electrochemical CO 2 Conversion to CO with High Selectivity and Current Density
Author(s) -
Jhong HueiRu Molly,
Tornow Claire E.,
Smid Bretislav,
Gewirth Andrew A.,
Lyth Stephen M.,
Kenis Paul J. A.
Publication year - 2017
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.201600843
Subject(s) - catalysis , electrochemistry , selectivity , materials science , carbon fibers , carbon nanotube , current density , chemical engineering , cathode , pyrolysis , nanoparticle , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , electrode , composite number , composite material , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
We report characterization of a non‐precious metal‐free catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO; namely, a pyrolyzed carbon nitride and multiwall carbon nanotube composite. This catalyst exhibits a high selectivity for production of CO over H 2 (approximately 98 % CO and 2 % H 2 ), as well as high activity in an electrochemical flow cell. The CO partial current density at intermediate cathode potentials ( V =−1.46 V vs. Ag/AgCl) is up to 3.5× higher than state‐of‐the‐art Ag nanoparticle‐based catalysts, and the maximum current density is 90 mA cm −2 . The mass activity and energy efficiency (up to 48 %) were also higher than the Ag nanoparticle reference. Moving away from precious metal catalysts without sacrificing activity or selectivity may significantly enhance the prospects of electrochemical CO 2 reduction as an approach to reduce atmospheric CO 2 emissions or as a method for load‐leveling in relation to the use of intermittent renewable energy sources.