Nanoporous Intermetallic Cu3Sn/Cu Hybrid Electrodes as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Designing highly selective and cost-effective electrocatalysts toward electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction is crucial for desirable transformation of greenhouse gas into fuels or high-value chemical products. Here, the authors report intermetallic Cu3Sn that is in situ formed and seamlessly integrated on self-supported bimodal nanoporous Cu skeleton (Cu3Sn/Cu) via a spontaneous alloying of Sn and Cu as robust electrocatalyst for selective electroreduction of CO2 to CO. By virtue of Sn atoms strengthening CO adsorption on Cu atoms, the intermetallic Cu3Sn has an intrinsic activity of approximate to 10.58 mu A cm(-2), more than 80-fold higher than that of monometallic Cu. By virtue of hierarchical bicontinuous nanoporous Cu architecture facilitating electron transfer and CO2 and proton mass transport and offering high specific surface areas for full use of electroactive Cu3Sn sites, the nanoporous Cu3Sn/Cu hybrid electrodes produce CO at a low overpotential of 0.09 V, and exhibit high partial current density of approximate to 15 mA cm(geo)(-2) at overpotential of 0.59 V, along with excellent stability and selectivity of 91.5% Faradaic efficiency. The outstanding electrochemical performance make them attractive alternatives to precious Au- and Ag-based electrocatalysts for building low-cost CO2 electrolyzers to selectively produce CO.

Automated summary

The authors report a robust electrocatalyst, intermetallic Cu3Sn, seamlessly integrated on a self-supported bimodal nanoporous Cu skeleton for selective electroreduction of CO2 to CO. The nanoporous Cu3Sn/Cu hybrid electrodes exhibit low overpotential, high partial current density, excellent stability, and selectivity, making them attractive alternatives to precious metal-based electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction.