DFT Comparison the Performance of Pd 10 Sn 5 and Pd 10 Ag 5 Electrocatalyst for Reduction of CO 2

A theoretical study of the electrochemical reduction of CO2 on cerium dioxide supported palladium single atoms and nanoparticles

Pd/CeO₂ catalysts show superior catalytic performance owing to their optimal cycling activity and stability. In this study, single-atom Pd and eight-atom Pd nanoparticle clusters were supported on the surface of CeO₂(110) to investigate the effect of loaded-metal size on the catalytic performance of the Pd-CeO₂ system for CO₂ reduction. We investigated the CO₂ reduction reaction (CRR) that produces C₁ products (CO, HCOOH, CH₃OH, and CH₄) on Pd₈/CeO₂ and Pd/CeO₂ by density functional theory. The structures, CO₂ adsorption configurations, and CO₂ reduction mechanisms of these two electrocatalysts were systematically studied. Subsequently, different reduction pathways on Pd₈/CeO₂ and Pd/CeO₂ were investigated to identify the optimal reaction pathway for further assessment. The results showed that both of these catalysts are more selective towards the production of CH₃OH than CH₄. Moreover, compared to Pd/CeO₂ and Pd₄/CeO₂ (from a previously reported study) the production of CH₃OH via the CRR on Pd₈/CeO₂ exhibited the lowest limiting potential. These results demonstrate the superiority of Pd₈/CeO₂ as an electrocatalyst for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to CH₃OH.