Atomically Dispersed s-Block Magnesium Sites for Electroreduction of CO2 to CO

Atomically dispersed transition metal sites have been extensively studied for CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) to CO due to their robust CO2 activation ability. However, the strong hybridization between directionally localized d orbits and CO vastly limits CO desorption and thus the activities of atomically dispersed transition metal sites. In contrast, s-block metal sites possess nondirectionally delocalized 3s orbits and hence weak CO adsorption ability, providing a promising way to solve the suffered CO desorption issue. Herein, we constructed atomically dispersed magnesium atoms embedded in graphitic carbon nitride (Mg-C3N4) through a facile heat treatment for CO2RR. Theoretical calculations show that the CO desorption on Mg sites is easier than that on Fe and Co sites. This theoretical prediction is demonstrated by experimental CO temperature program desorption and in situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. As a result, Mg-C3N4 exhibits a high turnover frequency of approximate to 18 000 per hour in H-cell and a large current density of -300 mA cm(-2) in flow cell, under a high CO Faradaic efficiency >= 90 % in KHCO3 electrolyte. This work sheds a new light on s-block metal sites for efficient CO2RR to CO.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the construction of atomically dispersed magnesium atoms embedded in graphitic carbon nitride for CO2 electroreduction to CO. Theoretical calculations and experimental results show that the desorption of CO on Mg sites is easier compared to Fe and Co sites, leading to higher CO Faradaic efficiency and activity. This work sheds new light on the use of s-block metal sites for efficient CO2RR.