A robust Ni@NCNT-C catalyst for highly efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO over a wide potential range

The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to CO is regarded as a potential way to relieve CO 2 level and produce value-added chemicals. However, most reported catalysts only possess high Faraday efficiency of CO (FE CO %) under a narrow potential range, and this shortage largely limits its ultimate practical viability. Herein, we develop a facile method to synthesize nickel encased by nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes on carbon support (Ni@NCNT-C) catalyst for CO 2 RR. As for the important influence factors, the Ni content and treatment temperature are carefully controlled, and their influence on textural property and catalytic performance is investigated. The 0.1Ni@NCNT-C-800 catalyst provides a low overpotential (−0.27 V vs. RHE) and high FE CO % (∼100%). The CO partial current density can reach 230 mA cm −2 and the activity can be maintained over 40 h. More importantly, a wide potential range of 900 mV (−0.27 V to − 1.17 V vs. RHE) can be obtained when FE CO % is continuously maintained at nearly 100%. This work may provide a route to seek a robust catalyst for high-efficiency CO 2 RR over a wide potential range.