Facile Deposition of Cu−SnO x Hybrid Nanostructures on Lightly Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrodes for CO 2 Reduction

Doping and defect engineering in carbon-based electrocatalysts for enhanced electrochemical CO2 reduction: From 0D to 3D materials

The increasing atmospheric CO2 levels and the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions have driven research into electrochemical CO2 reduction. Carbon-based materials have received significant attention for their potential as electrocatalysts, yet their inert nature often limits their performance. Defect engineering and heteroatom doping have emerged as transformative approaches to overcome these limitations, enhancing both catalytic activity and Faradaic efficiency. This review systematically examines the role of these strategies across diverse carbon materials, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots, and boron-doped diamond. Special attention is given to the incorporation of heteroatoms, such as nitrogen and boron, and the modulation of defect structures to optimize CO2 reduction pathways. By exploring the interplay between dopant type, defect density, and material dimensionality, we provide a comprehensive understanding of how tailored carbon-based electrocatalysts can drive advancements in sustainable electrochemical CO2 conversion. This work underscores the potential of defect-engineered and doped carbon materials to revolutionize the field of electrocatalysis, paving the way for innovative solutions to environmental and energy challenges.

Tailor-designed nanoparticle-based PdNiSn catalyst as a potential anode for glycerol fuel cells

In order to effectively use glycerol as a fuel in direct glycerol fuel cells, a catalyst that can break the C-C bond and enhance the electro-oxidation of glycerol to CO2 is necessary. In this particular investigation, a palladium-nickel-tin nanocomposite electrodeposited on a glassy carbon electrode (PdNiSn/GC) exhibited excellent activity towards the electro-oxidation of glycerol, thanks to the synergistic effect of the catalyst composition. The PdNiSn/GC surface generated a peak current (Ip) that was 2.5 times higher than that obtained at a Pd/GC electrode, with a cathodic shift in the onset potential (Eonset) of approximately 300 mV. Additionally, the current obtained at the PdNiSn/GC surface remained stable during continuous electrolysis. Capacitance measurements were used to interpret the results of the electrocatalytic activity, and high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that the products of the glycerol electro-oxidation reaction were oxalic acid and formic acid, which were subsequently oxidized to CO2, as revealed by the charge calculations. The results depict that the synergy between Pd, β-Ni(OH)2, and SnO2 is crucial for boosting GEOR through enhancing the C-C bond cleavage and completely oxidize the reaction intermediates to CO2.

Further Study of CO2 Electrochemical Reduction on Palladium Modified BDD Electrode: Influence of Electrolyte

The study of CO₂ electrochemical reduction to useful compounds using bare or modified BDD electrode attracts numerous attentions. Meanwhile, the efficiency of products obtained from CO₂ electrochemical reduction is known to be determined by the electrode material and the electrolyte. Formic acid as main product and CO as a minor product, have also been known on the CO₂ reduction using BDD electrode. Recently, we reported the successful improvement of CO production from the reduction of CO₂ by decorating the surface of BDD electrode with palladium particles. Following this, herein, we present further investigation on electrolyte dependence, including cation and anion dependence and also concentration effect in order to understand deeply the CO₂ reduction on surface of palladium modified BDD electrode. The results suggest the use of NaCl and KCl as a catholyte for optimum performance, in addition to the improvement of CO₂ reduction product in higher electrolyte concentration.

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 using palladium modified boron-doped diamond electrodes: enhancing the production of CO

In recent years, boron-doped diamond (BDD) has been utilized as an electrode for the electrochemical reduction of CO2, and several reports have been published on this. The wide potential window of BDD enables the hydrogen evolution reaction, which competes with CO2 reduction, to be suppressed. On the other hand, the high overpotential is still a problem. We attempted to overcome this problem by depositing metal on the BDD electrode. Pd metal was chosen to modify the surface of the BDD electrode (PdBDD). Employing this electrode at a lower potential of -1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl, we increased the production of CO (53.3% faradaic efficiency) from the reduction of CO2. We present various attempts made to improve the CO production.