Two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets for CO2 electroreduction in aqueous electrolytes

Abstract

Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to valuable synthons is a sustainable and viable technique to reduce the carbon footprint in the atmosphere. In this work, two-dimensional Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets have been investigated for selective CO₂ adsorption and its subsequent electroreduction to valuable products in an aqueous electrolyte medium. Various physical and electrochemical characterizations have been performed to ascertain the structural, morphological, and electrocatalytic characteristics of Ti₃C₂T_x. Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets show a CO₂ adsorption capacity of 0.16 mmol g⁻¹ under ambient conditions and exhibit a maximum faradaic efficiency of 96% towards CO₂ electroreduction to C₁ and C₂₊ products, mainly CO (42.2%), methanol (23.6%), ethanol (20.1%), and acetone (10.1%). Besides, it also shows high catalytic stability for product formation for a tested period of 72 h. This report sheds new light on the design of titanium-based advanced catalysts for efficient CO₂ conversion in a benign aqueous medium.