Qin Chen, Gevindu Masakorala, M. Infas H. Mohideen, Thisus Samarasekara, Long Zhang, Wenlei Zhu, Yang Zhou, Charitha Thambiliyagodage
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Industrial-level electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to form HCOO – and DCOO – requires robust Sn catalysts with high performance. In this study, the hydrothermal method was employed to load varying amounts of Sn precursors onto waste biomass-derived porous carbon to investigate the structure–activity relationship between Sn loading forms and HCOO – selectivity. Through comprehensive ex / in situ characterizations, we discovered that with 5% Sn precursor addition, highly dispersed SnO 2 nanoparticles formed on the carbon support, enabling the catalyst to exhibit exceptional HCOO – activity (Faradaic efficiency exceeding 90%) across a broad potential window. In situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and in situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the highly dispersed SnO 2 nanoparticles enhance the stability of the *OCHO intermediate. Furthermore, when H 2 O was replaced with D 2 O, the generation of DCOO – was observed, and good selectivity was maintained. This study provides a facile strategy for waste biomass conversion and the design of Sn-based catalysts for DCOO – production.