Premium
A Gold–Palladium Nanoparticle Alloy Catalyst for CO Production from CO 2 Electroreduction
Author(s) -
Bellini Marco,
Folliero Maria G.,
Evangelisti Claudio,
He Qinggang,
Hu Yongfeng,
Pagliaro Maria V.,
Oberhauser Werner,
Marchionni Andrea,
Filippi Jonathan,
Miller Hamish A.,
Vizza Francesco
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201800859
Subject(s) - bimetallic strip , palladium , catalysis , materials science , alloy , electrolysis , electrochemistry , nanoparticle , faraday efficiency , selectivity , chemical engineering , metal , inorganic chemistry , electrode , metallurgy , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrolyte , organic chemistry , engineering
Electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is a promising technology for combining CO 2 reutilization and renewable electricity storage. For economic feasibility, better catalysts are required to overcome current limitations such as high overpotentials, poor faradaic efficiencies (FEs), and low current densities. Herein, size‐ and composition‐controlled gold (Au)–palladium (Pd) bimetallic alloy nanoparticles prepared by a metal vapor synthesis technique together with the monometallic Au and Pd equivalent materials are investigated. X‐ray diffraction and high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analyses confirm the Au–Pd alloy formation with an average atomic ratio of 76 Pd wt% and 24 Au wt%. These bimetallic and the monometallic catalysts are characterized and tested for the electroreduction of CO 2 in electrochemical cells and also in a complete CO 2 electrolysis cell. Analysis of the reduction products shows a 100% CO 2 RR selectivity for CO. The FE for CO with respect to H 2 as high as 90% is obtained with Au–Pd/C by tuning the electrode structure. The Au/C and Pd/C catalysts also show a better selectivity for CO with no evidence of other CO 2 RR products. The Au–Pd alloy formation improves the FE of Pd for CO by suppressing the parasitic H 2 evolution reaction.