The flaky Cd film on Cu plate substrate: An active and efficient electrode for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate

Efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate was studied on a Cu/Cd composite electrode in 0.5 M KHCO3 aqueous solution, which was prepared by vacuum evaporation coating Cd film on the Cu plate substrate. The results showed that a novel flaky Cd film was deposited on the Cu plate substrate successfully. The performance of formate production on the Cu/Cd composite electrode was related to the electrolysis potential and the thickness of Cd film. The electrocatalytic activity of Cu/Cd composite electrode toward CO2 reduction was enhanced in comparison with pure Cu plate and Graphite-Paper/Cd (G-P/Cd) electrodes. The maximum Faradaic efficiency of 76.2% for formate production has been obtained with high stability and current densities of 10.6 mA cm(-2) at -1.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) on the composite electrode with depositing a similar to 300 nm thick Cd film on the Cu substrate.