Highly Efficient Electroreduction of CO2 to Methanol on Palladium-Copper Bimetallic Aerogels.

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CH3 OH is of great interest. Aerogels have fine inorganic superstructure with high porosity and are known to be exceptional materials. Now a Pd-Cu bimetallic aerogel electrocatalyst has been developed for conversion of CO2 into CH3 OH. The current density and Faradaic efficiency of CH3 OH can be as high as 31.8 mA cm-2 and 80.0 % over the Pd83 Cu17 aerogel at a very low overpotential (0.24 V). The superior performance of the electrocatalyst results from efficient adsorption and stabilization of the CO2 radical anion, high Pd0 /PdII and CuI +Cu0 /CuII ratios, and sufficient Pd/Cu grain boundaries of aerogel nanochains.