The synthesis of atomic Fe embedded in bamboo-CNTs grown on graphene as a superior CO₂ electrocatalyst

A catalyst consisting of atomic iron embedded in a new hierarchical carbon matrix was synthesised, and this catalyst exhibited superior performance in CO₂ electroreduction. Bamboo-like carbon nanotubes were catalytically grown by Fe₃C nanocrystals on graphene co-doped with atomic iron and nitrogen by a new approach of electrochemical oxidation of graphene films in an FeCl₄⁻-based ionic liquid followed by annealing. The highly selective generation of CO from CO₂ was achieved at a low overpotential of 0.55 V with a maximum CO faradaic efficiency of ∼95% for over 12 h.