Surface engineered tin foil for electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formate

Abstract

A cost-effective and stable electrode for electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction reactions (CO₂RR) was obtained by anodizing commercially available tin (Sn) foil in organic solvents. The surface engineered Sn foil can be used directly as the electrode for CO₂RR, which can reduce CO₂ to formate. In CO₂ saturated KHCO₃ solution, the maximum formate Faradaic efficiency of the obtained electrode is 77.40% with a stable current density of 4.80 mA cm⁻² at an applied potential of −1.09 V (vs. RHE). The heightened catalytic performances can be attributed to the formation of a thin layered SnO_x/Sn interface during anodization, which plays an important role in stabilizing the reaction intermediates in CO₂RR.