Polyethylenimine-Enhanced\nElectrocatalytic Reduction\nof CO₂ to Formate at Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanomaterials

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are\nselective and robust electrocatalysts\nfor CO₂ reduction to formate in aqueous media without the\nuse of a metal catalyst. Polyethylenimine (PEI) functions as a co-catalyst\nby significantly reducing catalytic overpotential and increasing current\ndensity and efficiency. The co-catalysis appears to help in stabilizing\nthe singly reduced intermediate CO₂^{<b>•–</b>} and concentrating CO₂ in the PEI overlayer.