Interface Engineering Triggered Electron Transfer Channels and Enhanced p–p Orbital Coupling: Boosting CO 2 Electroreduction to Formate Over Heterostructured CuS@SnO 2

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Authors: Jiaqi Li, H B Wu, Tinghui An, Y Wang, Dong Xiang, Hongtao Wang, Kedi Cai
Cited by: 1
References: 59

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) has been demonstrated to convert CO 2 to formate in an electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (eCO 2 RR). However, suboptimal CO 2 activation and insufficient electrical conductivity pose formidable challenges to achieving desirable eCO 2 RR activity. Herein, a heterostructured CuS@SnO 2 catalyst was designed to realize efficient formate production in eCO 2 RR, which delivers a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 94.9% and partial current density of 243.5 mA cm −2 at −1.1 V versus RHE in alkaline conditions, coupled with excellent electrochemical stability. Systematic investigations reveal that CuS acts as an electron reservoir, and the directional electron transfer channels induce interfacial electron deficiency in SnO 2 , stabilizing Sn active sites during long‐term eCO 2 RR operation. Furthermore, it confers dual effects for promoting formate conversion at the molecular level, which integrates optimized interface electronic structure and enhanced p–p orbital coupling between the key * OCHO intermediate and SnO 2 interface, rendering the enhanced * OCHO adsorption, decreased CO 2 hydrogenation energy barrier, and improved intrinsic formate activity. Beyond catalytic performance, CuS@SnO 2 was further utilized in a Li‐CO 2 battery to enable integrated CO 2 conversion and energy storage functionality. This study provides a strategy to effectively regulate the formate selectivity of eCO 2 RR by heterointerface engineering, and meanwhile bridges rational catalyst design with practical CO 2 conversion technologies.

Fields of Study & Subjects

CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Energy Materials
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
16
Issue
31
Publication date
4 July 2026
Language
EN