Nanostructured transition metal dichalcogenide electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction in ionic liquid

Journal Article · Thu Jul 28 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf4767· OSTI ID:1352570

Asadi, M.; Kim, K.; Liu, C.; Addepalli, A. V.; Abbasi, P.; Yasaei, P.; Phillips, P.; Behranginia, A.; Cerrato, J. M.; Haasch, R.; Zapol, P.; Kumar, B.; Klie, R. F.; Abiade, J.; Curtiss, L. A.; Salehi-Khojin, A.

Conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels is an attractive solution to many energy and environmental challenges. However, the chemical inertness of CO2 renders many electrochemical and photochemical conversion processes inefficient. We report a transition metal dichalcogenide nanoarchitecture for catalytic electrochemical CO2 conversion to carbon monoxide (CO) in an ionic liquid. We found that tungsten diselenide nanoflakes show a current density of 18.95 milliamperes per square centimeter, CO faradaic efficiency of 24%, and CO formation turnover frequency of 0.28 per second at a low overpotential of 54 millivolts. We also applied this catalyst in a light-harvesting artificial leaf platform that concurrently oxidized water in the absence of any external potential.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Materials Sciences and Engineering Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1352570
• Journal Information: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6298 Vol. 353; ISSN 0036-8075
• Publisher: AAAS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English