Bifunctional electrocatalysis for CO2 reduction via surface capping-dependent metal–oxide interactions. Issue 60 (24th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yueshen; Yuan, Xiaolei; Tao, Zixu; Wang, Hailiang
• Is Part Of: Chemical communications. Volume 55:Issue 60(2019)
• Page Start: 8864
• Page End: 8867
• Publication Date: 2019-06-24
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c9cc02934f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-7345

Abstract

Abstract : Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide capping on Au renders desirable chemical interactions with SnO2, enabling selective bifunctional CO2 electroreduction. Abstract : Multi-component materials are a new trend in catalyst development for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Understanding and managing the chemical interactions within a complex catalyst structure may unlock new or improved reactivity, but is scientifically challenging. We report the first example of capping ligand-dependent metal–oxide interactions in Au/SnO2 structures for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide capping on the Au nanoparticles enables bifunctional CO2 reduction where CO is produced at more positive potentials and HCOO − at more negative potentials. With citrate capping or no capping, the Au–SnO2 interactions steer the selectivity toward H2 evolution at all potentials. Using electrochemical CO oxidation as a probe reaction, we further confirm that the metal–oxide interactions are strongly influenced by the capping ligand.