Thermodynamically driven self-formation of Ag nanoparticles in Zn-embedded carbon nanofibers for efficient electrochemical CO(2) reduction

The electrochemical CO(2) reduction reaction (CO(2)RR), which converts CO(2) into value-added feedstocks and renewable fuels, has been increasingly studied as a next-generation energy and environmental solution. Here, we report that single-atom metal sites distributed around active materials can enhance the CO(2)RR performance by controlling the Lewis acidity-based local CO(2) concentration. By utilizing the oxidation Gibbs free energy difference between silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), and carbon (C), we can produce Ag nanoparticle-embedded carbon nanofibers (CNFs) where Zn is atomically dispersed by a one-pot, self-forming thermal calcination process. The CO(2)RR performance of AgZn–CNF was investigated by a flow cell with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE). Compared to Ag–CNFs without Zn species (53% at −0.85 V vs. RHE), the faradaic efficiency (FE) of carbon monoxide (CO) was approximately 20% higher in AgZn–CNF (75% at −0.82 V vs. RHE) with 1 M KOH electrolyte.