Electrospinning Highly Dispersed Ru Nanoparticle-Embedded Carbon Nanofibers Boost CO2 Reduction in a H2/CO2 Fuel Cell.

Abstract

A H2/CO2 fuel cell is a promising device that can convert CO2 into hydrocarbon fuel with electricity generation. Herein, a facile electrospinning method has been used to synthesize the embedded Ru-CNF catalyst in which Ru nanoparticles are dispersed homogeneously within N-doped carbon nanofibers. This catalyst exhibits a high CH4 production rate of 308.46 μmol gcat-1 h-1 at 170 °C, which is superior to that of the Ru/CNF (242.53 μmol gcat-1 h-1) and Ru/CNT (194.24 μmol gcat-1 h-1). The enhanced CO2RR performance of Ru-CNF is ascribed to the well-distributed Ru nanoparticles within the CNF matrix and synergistic effect of Ru sites with N species, which results in forming the increased CO2RR active sites, hence improving the catalytic activity. Simultaneously, it can achieve a peak power density of 1.8 W m-2 on the strength of anodic (H2 oxidation) and cathodic (CO2 reduction and H2 evolution) reactions with remarkable stability. Such findings give a theoretical basis of CO2RR in the H2/CO2 fuel cell system, which could hold great value to further develop the high-efficiency catalysts for CO2 reduction.