Highly Efficient Electroreduction of CO2 to Methanol on Palladium-Copper Bimetallic Aerogels

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CH3OH is of great interest. Aerogels have fine inorganic superstructure with high porosity and are known to be exceptional materials. Now a Pd-Cu bimetallic aerogel electrocatalyst has been developed for conversion of CO2 into CH3OH. The current density and Faradaic efficiency of CH3OH can be as high as 31.8mAcm(-2) and 80.0% over the Pd83Cu17 aerogel at a very low overpotential (0.24V). The superior performance of the electrocatalyst results from efficient adsorption and stabilization of the CO2 radical anion, high Pd-0/Pd-II and Cu-I+Cu-0/Cu-II ratios, and sufficient Pd/Cu grain boundaries of aerogel nanochains.