Highly Boosted Reaction Kinetics in Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction by Surface-Introduced Electronegative Dopants

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Wanzhen Zheng - , Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University of Technology (Author)
  • Yu Wang - , CAS - Chinese Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Ling Shuai - , Central China Normal University (Author)
  • Xinyue Wang - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Feng He - , Zhejiang University of Technology (Author)
  • Chaojun Lei - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Zhongjian Li - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Bin Yang - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Lecheng Lei - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Chris Yuan - , Case Western Reserve University (Author)
  • Ming Qiu - , Central China Normal University (Author)
  • Yang Hou - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Xinliang Feng - , Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed) (Author)

Abstract

Effectively improving the selectivity while reducing the overpotential over the electroreduction of CO2 (CO2ER) has been challenging. Herein, electronegative N atoms and coordinatively unsaturated Ni-N3 moieties co-anchored carbon nanofiber (Ni-N3-NCNFs) catalyst via an integrated electrospinning and carbonization strategy are reported. The catalyst exhibits a maximum CO Faradaic efficiency (F.E.) of 96.6%, an onset potential of −0.3 V, and a low Tafel slope of 71 mV dec−1 along with high stability over 100 h. Aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy identify the atomically dispersed Ni-N3 sites with Ni atom bonded by three pyridinic N atoms. The existence of abundant electronegative N dopants adjoin the Ni-N3 centers in Ni-N3-NCNFs. Theoretical calculations reveal that both, the undercoordinated Ni-N3 centers and their first neighboring C atoms modified by extra N dopants, display the positive effect on boosting CO2 adsorption and water dissociation processes, thus accelerating the CO2ER kinetics process. Furthermore, a designed Zn-CO2 battery with the cathode of Ni-N3-NCNFs delivers a maximum power density of 1.05 mW cm−2 and CO F.E. of 96% during the discharge process, thus providing a promising approach to electric energy output and chemical conversion.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2008146
JournalAdvanced functional materials
Volume31
Issue number15
Publication statusPublished - 8 Apr 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • CO electroreduction, reaction kinetics, simultaneous effects, unsaturated coordination, Zn -CO batteries