Atomically Dispersed\nNickel Sites for Selective Electroreduction\nof CO₂

Abstract

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction at its point\nof generation\nto form fuels and commodity chemicals using electricity from renewable\nsources is an appealing strategy for decreasing net anthropogenic\nCO₂ emissions and mitigating global warming. CO₂ reduction is however a kinetically slow and energy intensive reaction\nwith a wide range of possible products. Therefore, the development\nof highly selective, energy-efficient, and cost-effective electrocatalysts\nis required to accelerate this kinetically sluggish process. We report\nfacile synthesis of atomically dispersed Ni sites supported on nitrogen-doped\ncarbon (Ni/NC), which significantly facilitates selective electrochemical\nCO₂ reduction to CO with a Faradaic efficiency reaching\n92.3% at a low overpotential of 0.69 V (relative to the formal redox\npotential of CO₂ reduction to CO, <i>E</i>⁰_redox = −0.11 V versus reversible hydrogen\nelectrode, pH 0), surpassing Ni particles and many other reported\nmetal-based catalysts. This study thus unveils a platform of activating\nNi sites for selective reduction of CO₂.