Visualization of catalytic edge reactivity in electrochemical CO2 reduction on porous Zn electrode

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2018-11, Vol.290, p.255-261
• Main Authors: Morimoto, Masayuki, Takatsuji, Yoshiyuki, Hirata, Kaito, Fukuma, Takeshi, Ohno, Teruhisa, Sakakura, Tatsuya, Haruyama, Tetsuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon monoxide; Catalytic edge reactivity; CO2 reduction; Open-loop electric potential microscopy; Porous zinc
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.09.080

In the study, the catalytic edge reactivity on porous Zn electrode has successfully visualized through the electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO. It is well known that the activity of a CO2 reduction reaction catalyst depend on the type of material and surface nano-structure. Consequently, numerous researchers are interested in the relation between the catalyst activity and surface conditions such as morphology, oxidation state, and crystal orientation. However, it is difficult to explain the mechanisms of catalytic CO2 reduction and visualize the catalytic activity. Our results demonstrate, that this strategy not only improved the selective CO production, but also helped visualize the catalytic reactivity on the edge site via open-loop electric potential microscopy (OL-EPM). The obtained OL-EPM image strongly suggests that the edge site of porous Zn acts as an efficient reactive site in the CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction. [Display omitted] •Reactivity of porous Zn was proofed by visualizing the potential localization.•Porous Zn performed high selectivity for CO production from CO2.•Porous Zn induced increment the stabilization of CO2− as shown in Tafel analysis.