Electronic Regulation of Nickel Single Atoms by Confined Nickel Nanoparticles for Energy-Efficient CO2 Electroreduction

Modulating the electronic structure of atomically dispersed active sites is promising to boost catalytic activity but is challenging to achieve. Here we show a cooperative Ni single-atom-on-nanoparticle catalyst (NiSA/NP) prepared via direct solid-state pyrolysis, where Ni nanoparticles donate electrons to Ni(i)-N-C sites via a network of carbon nanotubes, achieving a high CO current density of 346 mA cm(-2) at -0.5 V vs RHE in an alkaline flow cell. When coupled with a NiFe-based anode in a zero-gap membrane electrolyzer, the catalyst delivers an industrially relevant CO current density of 310 mA cm(-2) at a low cell voltage of -2.3 V, corresponding to an overall energy efficiency of 57 %. The superior CO2 electroreduction performance is attributed to the enhanced adsorption of key intermediate COOH* on the electron-rich Ni single atoms, as well as a high density of active sites.

Automated summary

The researchers prepared a nickel single-atom/nanoparticle catalyst through direct solid-state pyrolysis, which exhibited high CO current density in an alkaline flow cell. Coupled with a nickel-iron anode in a zero-gap membrane electrolyzer, the catalyst achieved industrially relevant CO current density and low cell voltage, demonstrating a high overall energy efficiency.