Boosting CO2 electroreduction over silver nanowires modified by wet-chemical sulfidation and subsequent electrochemical de-sulfidation

Abstract

De-sulfidated Ag NWs (DS-Ag NWs) obtained from wet-chemical sulfidation of Ag NWs and subsequent electrochemical reduction were investigated for electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ (eCO₂RR) in 0.5 M KHCO₃. DS-Ag NWs exhibit improved CO Faradaic efficiency (81%) and enhanced CO partial current density for eCO₂RR as compared with pristine Ag NWs. Detailed characterizations show that sulfidated Ag NWs have a core–shell structure, Ag@Ag₂S NWs, and the surface of the DS-Ag NWs is embedded with randomly oriented Ag nanocrystallites, which accounts for the improved eCO₂RR performance.