Interface-Induced Electrocatalytic Enhancement of CO -to-Formate Conversion on Heterostructured Bismuth-Based Catalysts.

Electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CO RR) is a promising approach to convert CO to carbon-neutral fuels using external electric powers. Here, the Bi S -Bi O nanosheets possessing substantial interface being exposed between the connection of Bi S and Bi O are prepared and subsequently demonstrate to improve CO RR performance. The electrocatalyst shows formate Faradaic efficiency (FE) of over 90% in a wide potential window. A high partial current density of about 200 mA cm at -1.1 V and an ultralow onset potential with formate FE of 90% are achieved in a flow cell. The excellent electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the fast-interfacial charge transfer induced by the electronic interaction at the interface, the increased number of active sites, and the improved CO adsorption ability. These collectively contribute to the faster reaction kinetics and improved selectivity and consequently, guarantee the superb CO RR performance. This study provides an appealing strategy for the rational design of electrocatalysts to enhance catalytic performance by improving the charge transfer ability through constructing a functional heterostructure, which enables interface engineering toward more efficient CO RR.