Solvent-mediated outer-sphere CO(2) electro-reduction mechanism over the Ag111 surface

The electrocatalytic CO(2) reduction reaction (CO(2)RR) is one of the key technologies of the clean energy economy. Molecular-level understanding of the CO(2)RR process is instrumental for the better design of electrodes operable at low overpotentials with high current density. The catalytic mechanism underlying the turnover and selectivity of the CO(2)RR is modulated by the nature of the electrocatalyst, as well as the electrolyte liquid, and its ionic components that form the electrical double layer (EDL). Herein we demonstrate the critical non-innocent role of the EDL for the activation and conversion of CO(2) at a high cathodic bias for electrocatalytic conversion over a silver surface as a representative low-cost model cathode. By using a multiscale modeling approach we demonstrate that under such conditions a dense EDL is formed, which hinders the diffusion of CO(2) towards the Ag111 electrocatalyst surface. By combining DFT calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations we identify favorable pathways for CO(2) reduction directly over the EDL without the need for adsorption to the catalyst surface. The dense EDL promotes homogeneous phase reduction of CO(2)via electron transfer from the surface to the electrolyte. Such an outer-sphere mechanism favors the formation of formate as the CO(2)RR product. The formate can undergo dehydration to CO via a transition state stabilized by solvated alkali cations in the EDL.