Carbon Nanogrid‐Directed Interfacial Electric Field Engineering Boosts Selective CO 2 ‐to‐Formate Electrosynthesis
Abstract
ABSTRACT Efficient and durable electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to formate at industrially relevant current densities remains challenging, as Sn‐based catalysts often suffer from poor conductivity, structural degradation, and overly strong binding to key reaction intermediates. Here, we introduce a nanogrid‐directed interfacial electric field engineering strategy that addresses these limitations by spatially confining Sn nanoparticles within a conductive carbon nanotube nanogrid framework (Sn@CNT). The hierarchical architecture induces intense and well‐distributed interfacial electric fields, which accelerate charge transport, optimize the adsorption–desorption kinetics of *HCOOH intermediates, and promote interfacial H 2 O dissociation while maintaining a favorable local ion environment. As a result, the Sn@CNT catalyst delivers a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 95.6% for formate at 300 mA cm −2 , and maintains over 90% FE for 200 h in a flow cell in alkaline conditions. In the solid‐electrolyte cell, the formate combines with protons to yield formic acid, enabling stable production of 1.1 m formic acid at 400 mA for more than 300 h without observable performance decay. Operando spectroscopy and theoretical simulations reveal that the CNT nanogrid establishes a confined interfacial field that redistributes local charges, facilitates H 2 O activation, and lowers the desorption barrier of *HCOOH intermediates. This cooperative field modulation also establishes a mild microenvironment that enhances CO 2 reduction kinetics while suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. This work demonstrates nanogrid‐directed interfacial field engineering as a broadly applicable approach for tailoring electrochemical interfaces, offering design principles for efficient and stable CO 2 ‐to‐formate electrosynthesis.
Fields of Study & Subjects
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Carbon dioxide utilization in catalysis
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Small
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 15
- Pages
- e14141–e14141
- Publication date
- 19 January 2026
- Language
- EN