A highly efficient diatomic nickel electrocatalyst for CO2reduction

We report a facile but effective approach to construct a highly dispersed diatomic catalyst. A carbon-embedded diatomic Ni(2)catalyst was synthesized from carbon black, polyaniline and nickel(ii) salts. The resulting catalyst exhibits excellent activity for the CO(2)reduction reaction (CO2RR) at low Ni content with a faradaic efficiency of CO over 95% in the potential range from -0.6 V to -1.0 Vvs.reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). A high specific current density of 37.2 A mg(-1)Ni was recorded at -1.1 V, among the highest reported values for Ni-based electrocatalysts.