Bimetallic Cobalt-Copper Nanoparticle-Decorated Hollow Carbon Nanofibers for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction

Bimetallic materials are one of the most promising catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO2, but there are still many challenges to be overcome on the route to industrialization. Herein, a series of carbon nanofiber-supported bimetallic cobalt-copper catalysts (CoxCuy/CFs) are designed and constructed through the electrospinning technique and a subsequent pyrolysis procedure. Small-sized Co-Cu nanoparticles are homogenously distributed on the porous carbon nanofibers, which can significantly improve the utilization rate of metal sites and greatly reduce the loading amount of metals. Moreover, different product distributions and catalytic performance can be obtained in CO2 reduction via adjusting the metal proportion of CoxCuy/CFs. Especially, Co3Cu/CFs can bring forth a 97% total faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO (68%) and HCOOH (29%) at -0.8 V-RHE cathode potential in 0.5 M KHCO3 electrolyte. Furthermore, the hierarchical pores can firmly confine the small Co-Cu nanoparticles and keep them from easy agglomeration during electrolysis, eventually leading to 60 h of stability for Co3Cu/CFs in CO2 electroreduction. This study might provide a facile and economic method to fabricate efficient bimetallic catalysts for CO2 electroreduction and other electrocatalysis applications.

Automated summary

In this study, carbon nanofiber-supported bimetallic cobalt-copper catalysts were successfully synthesized through electrospinning and pyrolysis techniques. These catalysts exhibited efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2 with high faradaic efficiency and stability. This work provides a facile and economic method for fabricating efficient bimetallic catalysts for CO2 electroreduction and other electrocatalysis applications.