Exceptional Size-Dependent Activity Enhancement in the Electroreduction of CO 2 over Au Nanoparticles
University of Central Florida · Technische Universität Berlin · +2 more institutions
Abstract
The electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to industrial chemicals and fuels is a promising pathway to sustainable electrical energy storage and to an artificial carbon cycle, but it is currently hindered by the low energy efficiency and low activity displayed by traditional electrode materials. We report here the size-dependent catalytic activity of micelle-synthesized Au nanoparticles (NPs) in the size range of ∼1-8 nm for the electroreduction of CO2 to CO in 0.1 M KHCO3. A drastic increase in current density was observed with decreasing NP size, along with a decrease in Faradaic selectivity toward CO. Density functional theory calculations showed that these trends are related to the increase in the number of…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 14.95
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 26
Authors
7Topics & keywords
- Chemistry
- Nanoparticle
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical engineering
- Nuclear chemistry