Electroreduction of CO2 by Ni sites on nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels from glucose

Leyu Yang; Zhiyan Sun; Li Huang; Xin Wang; Chunhui Li

Electroreduction of CO₂ by Ni sites on nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels from glucose

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Author(s): Leyu Yang¹ ; Zhiyan Sun² ; Li Huang¹ ; Xin Wang¹ ; Chunhui Li¹
- Affiliations: 1: School of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou 450001 , People's Republic of China ;
  2: Department of Disease Prevention and Control , The 988th Central Hospital of PLA , Zhengzhou 450001 , People's Republic of China
Source: Volume 15, Issue 6, 27 May 2020, p. 399 – 402
DOI: 10.1049/mnl.2019.0647 , Online ISSN 1750-0443

Received 15/10/2019, Accepted 13/02/2020, Revised 14/01/2020, Published 27/05/2020

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction has offered a promising route for managing the global carbon balance, but presents challenges because of the lack of highly efficient and low-cost electrocatalyst. Compared with the dispersity of metal active sites, the porous structure of the substrate is more significant for the catalytic performance and the design and fabrication of substrate are often the key points and difficulties for electrocatalysts. Herein a facile method to disperse Ni active sites on nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels with high surface area and porosity is reported. Firstly, hydrophilic polysaccharides were prepared by the hydrothermal process of glucose, followed by ultrasonic mixing with Ni complex and melamine. Secondly, calcination was used to increase the surface area and conductivity of the freeze-dried mixture. The Ni/N-C catalyst exhibited good activity with a Faradaic efficiency for CO production of about 95% and a current density of ∼8 mA cm⁻² at an overpotential of 750 mV. The result presents helpful guidelines for the rational design and accurate modulation of low-cost and efficient catalysts.

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Electroreduction of CO₂ by Ni sites on nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels from glucose

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