Controllable Reconstruction of β-Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> Composite for Highly Efficient and Durable Electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> Conversion.

Xiao, Yuxuan; Liu, Di; Yang, Jiao; Feng, Jinxian; Gu, Wenhao; Qiao, Lulu; Ip, Weng Fai; Pan, Hui · Nano Lett · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The uncontrollable electrochemical reduction reconstruction, leading to the destruction of well-defined structure and subsequent low durability, is the main obstacle to the catalytic performance of Bi-based composites toward electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (eCO<sub>2</sub>RR). Herein, we address this issue through construction of a novel β-Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> composite, which can resist the reduction reconstruction of Bi-based materials to metallic Bi during the eCO<sub>2</sub>RR process by modulating a more alkaline microenvironment that facilitates the formation of new Bi-O bonds. The synergistic interactions and directional electron transfer between the β-Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> components, together with the stable composite structure, result in its superior activity and selectivity for formate production with high faradaic efficiencies (FEs) over 94% from -0.7 to -1.1 V, and remarkable durability with maintenance of 80% FE after continuous electrocatalysis of 720 h. This work sheds new light on designing advanced high-performance nanomaterials toward eCO<sub>2</sub>RR and other practical applications.