Graphdiyne/copper sulfide heterostructure for active conversion of CO2 to formic acid

The synthesis of electrocatalysts with high selectivity, activity, and stability for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising and sustainable route to convert CO2 into value-added chemicals at room temperatures and pressures. Here we report a new heterostructured electrocatalyst of graphdiyne/copper sulfide (GDY/CuSx) via the controlled in situ growth of GDY on the surface of CuSx. Our results show that the introduction of GDY can effectively induce the formation of mixed-valence Cu(i, ii) and incomplete charge transfer between the GDY and Cu atoms, which enhance the conductivity, produce new active sites, and finally result in a higher catalytic performance. In addition, the GDY grown on the surface of the catalysts endows the sample with a high long-term stability. Benefitting from above advantages, GDY/CuSx shows a high CO2-to-formate conversion performance with a high faradaic efficiency (FE) and long-term stability at room temperatures and ambient pressures.

Automated summary

A new heterostructured electrocatalyst of graphdiyne/copper sulfide (GDY/CuSx) was reported via the controlled in situ growth of GDY on the surface of CuSx. The introduction of GDY effectively induced the formation of mixed-valence Cu(i, ii) and incomplete charge transfer, which enhanced the conductivity and produced new active sites, resulting in a higher catalytic performance. In addition, GDY/CuSx exhibited high long-term stability and showed a high CO2-to-formate conversion performance with high faradaic efficiency at room temperatures and ambient pressures.