We report a new form of catalyst
based on ferromagnetic hexagonal-close-packed
(hcp) Co nanosheets (NSs) for selective CO2RR to ethanal,
CH3CHO. In all reduction potentials tested from −0.2
to −1.0 V (vs RHE) in 0.5 M KHCO3 solution, the
reduction yields ethanal as a major product and ethanol/methanol as
minor products. At −0.4 V, the Faradaic efficiency (FE) for
ethanal reaches 60% with current densities of 5.1 mA cm–2 and mass activity of 3.4 A g–1 (total FE for ethanal/ethanol/methanol
is 82%). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that
this high CO2RR selectivity to ethanal on the hcp Co surface
is attributed to the unique intralayer electron transfer, which not
only promotes [OC–CO]* coupling but also suppresses the complete
hydrogenation of the coupling intermediates to ethylene, leading to
highly selective formation of CH3CHO.
Observing and understanding the phenomena associated with the reaction mechanisms and catalyst deactivation in molecular catalysis is a very challenging task in green chemisty. This knowledge is crucial for applying...
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