AgZn-BDC-derived catalyst for CO2 electroreduction to syngas with fixed ratio over wide current density

Abstract

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) to produce syngas (CO and H2) is an attractive method for achieving carbon neutrality. However, it remains a challenge to simultaneously control the CO/H2 ratio of the syngas produced over a wide range of current densities. Here, we report a bimetallic Ag and Zn MOF-derived catalyst that achieves a stable CO/H2 ratio of around 1:1 over a wide current density range of 50–200 mA cm−2. In situ Raman measurements, XRD pattern and FTIR images demonstrate that the MOF-derived catalyst transforms into Ag2O and ZnO surrounded by amorphous carbon during CO2RR. In-situ ATR-SEIRAS measurements and CO-TPD reason that the Ag and Zn MOF-derived catalyst strengthens the binding strength of *CO, which ends up with the CO to H2 ratio in the syngas approaches 1:1.