Surface regulated Ni nanoparticles on N-doped mesoporous carbon as an efficient electrocatalyst for CO₂ reduction

Min Wang,^† Qi Xie,^† Huimin Chen, Xuejing Cui, Luhua Jiang*

Nanomaterials and Electrocatalysis Laboratory, College of Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53 Zhengzhou Road, Qingdao 266042, P. R. China

^† M. Wang and Q. Xie contribute equally to this work.

* Corresponding author. E-mail address: luhuajiang@qust.edu.cn (L. Jiang)

Abstract

Low cost, highly selective and efficient electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction reaction (CO2RR) is crucial for lowering the global carbon footprint and mitigating energy shortages. Here, we first report a highly selective and efficient electrocatalyst for CO₂RR to CO using a surface–regulated Ni nanoparticles supported on N–doped CMK–3 (N,O–Ni/CMK3). Compared with most Ni metal catalysts previously reported with severe competitive hydrogen evolution during the CO2RR, the N,O–Ni/CMK3 catalyst presents a superior CO faradaic efficiency of about 97%, a high CO partial current density (13.01 mA cm^-1) and turnover frequency (4.25 s^-1). The comprehensive characterization provides evidence that the N, O co–regulated Ni acts as the active center. Taking advantage of the N, O co-regulated chemical environment, N,O–Ni/CMK3 also displays a decent stability at negative potentials. Our work paves a novel approach for developing transition metal catalysts for CO2RR with enhanced activity and selectivity via regulating surface chemical environment.

Keywords: CO₂ electro-reduction reaction; Ni nanoparticle; N-doped mesoporous carbon; surface regulation; high selectivity

DOI: 10.1016/S1872‐2067(21)63903‐7