Investigation of Structural Evolution of SnO₂ Nanosheets towards Electrocatalytic CO₂ Reduction

Abstract

Abstract In‐depth understanding of the catalytic active sites is of paramount importance for the design of efficient electrocatalysts for CO 2 conversion. Here we highlight the structural evolution of SnO 2 nanosheets for electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction. The transformation of SnO 2 into metallic Sn would occur on the surface of catalyst during the catalytic process, followed by enhanced selectivity and activity for the conversion of CO 2 to HCOOH. Electrocatalytic characterization and structural analysis demonstrate that the metallic Sn derived from structural evolution plays a dominant role in the CO 2 reduction to HCOOH. This work deepens the understanding of the catalytic mechanism and provides a new pathway for the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction.