Facile and scalable synthesis of Cu2O-SnO2 catalyst for the photoelectrochemical CO2 conversion
Catalysis Today, 2022
by Maddalena Zoli; Daniela Roldán; Hilmar Guzmán; Micaela Castellino; Nunzio Russo; Simelys Hernández (CREST group, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino), Angelica Chiodoni (Center for Sustainable Future Technologies, IIT) and Katarzyna Bejtka (Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino).
Abstract
CO2 conversion into high-value-added products is becoming increasingly attractive to find substitutes for fossil-based ones and tackle the environmental crisis. Herein, a noble, simple, reproducible, and scalable Cu2O-SnO2 photo-electrocatalyst was synthesized and characterized. Coupling cuprous oxide with tin oxide allowed for protecting unstable Cu+1 species from photo-corrosion. Evidence of the SnO2 stabilization role were found via chronoamperometry tests under chopped light and XPS analysis. An optimized catalytic ink was developed to prepare the photocathodes. The CO2 photo-electroreduction tests demonstrated a prevalent production of CO and formate with Faradaic efficiencies of 35.47 % and 19.58 %, respectively, and a good system stability. Sunlight illumination demonstrated to play a major role to hinder H2 evolution and promote ≥C1+ products formation.