Worm-like Au nanoparticles anchored to 3D graphene foam for efficient and selective CO2 reduction

Abstract

Highly efficient and selective conversion of CO2 into a reusable form is desirable to the sustainable production of valuable chemicals out of greenhouse gases. Metal-based electrocatalysts often suffer from poor product selectivity for CO2 reduction, and the activity is always limited to a narrow potential range. In this study, the worm-like Au nanoparticles anchored to three-dimensional (3D) graphene foam were synthesized via a potential-cycling method, termed as Au/GF. It can high-efficient catalyze CO2 reduction to CO in aqueous 0.1 M KHCO3 at the potential range of −0.2 V to −0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs RHE). At −0.5 V vs RHE, the reduction Faradaic efficiency (FE) reaches 92% and stays at this level for 48 h without any noticeable decay. The work promotes a facile strategy for nano-Au electrode production toward efficient and selective CO2 reduction to CO.