In-situ formation of ligand-stabilized bismuth nanosheets for efficient CO2 conversion

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 297; p. 120481
• Main Authors: Li, Nanhui, Yan, Ping, Tang, Yuanhao, Wang, Jianghao, Yu, Xin-Yao, Wu, Hao Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.11.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Bismuth; Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; Chemical reduction; CO2 electroreduction; Conversion; Durability; Electrochemistry; Formic acid; Ligand-modified nanosheets; Ligands; Metal-organic frameworks; MOF derivative; Nanosheets; Bismuth; MOF derivative; CO2 electroreduction; Ligand-modified nanosheets
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120481

Ligand-stabilized Bi nanosheets are obtained from in-situ electrochemical reduction of a Bi-based metal-organic framework, which exhibit remarkable electrocatalytic performance for CO2 reduction. A high Faradic efficiency of 98 % for formate are achieved with an improved durability over 40 h, attributing to the abundant under-coordinated Bi active sites stabilized by residual organic ligands. [Display omitted] •An in-situ formed Bi-molecular surface maximizes the under-coordinated surface atoms as catalytic active sites.•The hybrid surface improves the stability of Bi catalyst by suppressing the reconstruction of active sites.•The ligand-stabilized Bi nanosheets deliver a high formate Faradaic efficiency of 98 % and improved stability over 40 h. Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide provides a feasible solution to the energy and climate crisis. Bi-based catalysts are promising candidates to electrochemically convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into formic acid or formate. Herein, ligand-stabilized Bi nanosheets are obtained from in-situ electrochemical reduction of a Bi-based metal-organic framework, which exhibit remarkable electrocatalytic performance for CO2 reduction. A high Faradic efficiency of 98 % for formate is achieved at a potential of -0.80 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) with an improved durability over 40 h. The remarkable electrocatalytic activity and stability could be attributed to the in-situ generated catalyst with abundant under-coordinated Bi active sites, which are effectively stabilized by residual ligands adsorbed on surface. This study demonstrates that ligand-stabilized under-coordinated surface sites would be facilely generated from in-situ transformation of metal-organic precursors for highly efficient CO2 conversion.