Electrochemically converting the over-emitted CO2 from fossil fuel combustion back into natural carbon cycle has become a hot spot in recent years. However, surfactants on synthesized nanocatalysts have negative effects for the activity and selectivity. Herein, we transferred the surfactants on single-crystalline gold nanoparticles into N-doped graphene quantum dots by a hydrothermal method, which not only cleared the Au surfaces but also enhanced the catalytic activity for converting CO2 into CO at ultralow potentials. The highest faradaic efficiency reaches to 93% at -0.25 V vs. RHE and CO producing starts from as low as -0.15 V, which is much lower than other Au-based nanocatalysts. DFT calculations were applied to investigate the mechanism and indicate the synergistic effect between gold and NGQDs is a key to activity increasing.

Low overpotential for electrochemically reducing CO2 to CO on nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots-wrapped single crystalline gold nanoparticles

256th National Meeting (2018)

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