Comparative Study between Pristine Ag and Ag Foam for Electrochemical Synthesis of Syngas with Carbon Dioxide and Water

Abstract

The electrosynthesis of syngas (H2 + CO) from CO2 and H2O can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the energy crisis. In the present work, silver (Ag) foam was employed as a catalytic electrode for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 in aqueous solution to design different syngas ratios (H2:CO). In addition to H2 and CO, a small amount of formic acid was found in the liquid phase. By contrast, the planar polycrystalline Ag yields CO, formic acid, methane and methanol as the carbon-containing products. During the potential-controlled electrolysis, the Ag foam displayed a relatively higher activity and selectivity in the electroreduction of aqueous CO2 to CO compared with its smooth surface counterpart, as evidenced by the lower onset potential, higher partial current density and Faradic efficiency at the same bias voltage. Moreover, the electrode remained stable after three successive cycles. Based on the characterization using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, potential step determination and density functional theory calculations, superior performance was credited to the three-dimensional structure of Ag foam constructed with coral-like Ag particles, in which the numerous edge sites are beneficial for the stabilization of the surface adsorbed COOH species and the exposed {111} facets favor the desorption of adsorbed CO species.