Engineering Bimetallic Copper‐Tin Based Core‐Shell Alloy@Oxide Nanowire as Efficient Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Abstract

AbstractPursuing both high effective and selective electrocatalysts is significant for efficient and low‐cost electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction. Here, we design a novel bimetallic alloy/oxide nanowire catalyst with core‐shell configuration. A typical CuSn alloy core provides high electrical conductivity while the amorphous Cu doped SnO2 shell guarantees the catalytic activity and selectivity for CO2 reduction process. Computational studies further elucidate the important role of Cu doped SnO2 layer in the electrocatalytic selectivity for formate and the restraint of hydrogen production. Benefited from the well‐designed components and hierarchical configuration, the as‐prepared electrocatalyst displays a partial current density of 30 mA cm−2 with a Faradaic efficiency of 78 % at −0.9 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) for formate. This work provides a new pathway to design advanced electrocatalyst for CO2 electrochemical reduction.