Realizing ampere-level CO2 electrolysis at low voltage over a woven network of few-atom-layer ultralong silverene nanobelts with ultrahigh aspect ratio by pairing with formaldehyde oxidation

Abstract

The development of advanced multi-functional electrocatalysts and their industrial operation on paired electrocatalysis systems presents a promising avenue for the gradual penetration of renewable energy into practical production. Herein, a self-supported conductive network of silverene nanobelts (Ag–ene NBs) was delicately assembled (Ag–NB–NWs), in which ultralong and few-atom-layer Ag–ene NBs with a high edge-to-facet ratio were interconnected, serving as “superreactors” for electron transfer and mass transport during the reaction. Such superstructures as electrocatalysts delivered an unparalleled performance toward the CO₂-to-CO conversion with exclusively high faradaic efficiency (FE) and partial current densities of up to 1 A cm⁻². Remarkably, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cell with Ag–NB–NWs as the cathode was capable of ultrastable and continuous operation for over 240 h at 0.4 A with ∼100% selectivity. More importantly, by further using Ag–NB–NWs as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, a record-low voltage overall CO₂ electrolysis system coupling cathodic CO₂ reduction with anodic formaldehyde oxidation in MEA cell was performed to achieve concurrent feed gas generation and formate production, substantially improving electrochemical techno-economic feasibility.