Improved CO2 electrolysis by a Fe nanoparticle-decorated (Ce, La, Sr)(CrFe) O3-6 perovskite using a combined strategy of lattice defect-building

Application of solid oxide cell in CO2 electrolysis is still restricted due to the insufficient electrocatalytic activity. Herein, a Fe nanoparticle-decorated (Ce, La, Sr)(CrFe)O3-6 perovskite (Fe-CLSCF) was obtained by reducing the A-site deficient (Ce0.08La0.52Sr0.3)Cr0.5Fe0.5O3-6. Activity of Fe-CLSCF as the cathode material for solid oxide reversible cells was investigated. In CO2 electrolysis mode, the cell shows high current density of 2.21 A cm-2 and high faraday efficiency of 97.2% at 850 degrees C and 2.0 V in CO2/CO (70:30) fuel. The cell displayed excellent durability over a period of 106 h at above 1 A cm-2. In the SOFC mode, the peak power density of 188 mW cm-2 was achieved at 850 degrees C in CO2/CO (70:30) fuel. Experiments and DFT calculation indicate that the perovskite materials with more oxygen vacancies are more likely to adsorb and activate CO2. The combined strategy of lattice defect-building promotes the chemical adsorption/activation and surface reaction kinetics of CO2, which consequently enhances the electrolysis performance.

Automated summary

A Fe nanoparticle-decorated (Ce, La, Sr)(CrFe)O3-6 perovskite was obtained to improve the electrocatalytic activity of solid oxide cells in CO2 electrolysis. The Fe-CLSCF material showed a high current density of 2.21 A cm-2 and a high faraday efficiency of 97.2% in CO2 electrolysis mode. In the SOFC mode, a peak power density of 188 mW cm-2 was achieved. Experiment and calculation indicated that perovskite materials with more oxygen vacancies were more likely to adsorb and activate CO2.