Dual 2D CuSe/g-C3N4 heterostructure for boosting electrocatalytic reduction of CO2

CO2 Reduction Reaction (CO2RR) is an effective route to convert CO2 to value-added products in energy and environment. In this work, a series of CuSe/g-C3N4 electrodes were synthesized by anchoring hexagonal CuSe nanoplates on g-C3N4 nanosheets and used for electrochemical CO2 RR. Among the as-prepared electrodes, 50wt% CuSe on g-C3N4 performed the highest Faradaic efficiency of 85.28% to achieve 1.47 times higher than that of the pure CuSe NPs at -1.2 V vs. RHE due to the larger specific area provided by the introduction of planar-structure g-C3N4 NSs and faster electron transfer speed on the interface of CuSe NPs and g-C3N4 NSs. Meanwhile the calculations of density functional theory confirmed the electronic coupling on the electrodes to form an internal electric field between two materials and electron direction from g-C3N4 NSs to CuSe NPs. This work created a novel opportunity for optimizing design of electrode materials to enhance the CO selectivity of CO2RR. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study focused on the synthesis of CuSe/g-C3N4 electrodes for electrochemical CO2RR, with the best performing electrode having a Faradaic efficiency of 85.28% at 50wt% CuSe on g-C3N4, 1.47 times higher than pure CuSe NPs. The introduction of g-C3N4 NSs provided a larger specific area and faster electron transfer speed, enhancing the CO selectivity of CO2RR.