Electrocatalytic Activity of CO2 Reduction to CO on Cadmium Sulfide Enhanced by Chloride Anion Doping

Abstract

The electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction (ECR) to produce valuable fuel is a promising process for addressing atmospheric CO₂ emissions and energy shortages. In this study, Cl-anion doped cadmium sulfide structures were directly fabricated on a nickel foam surface (Cl/CdS-NF) using an in situ hydrothermal method. The Cl-anion doping could significantly improve ECR activity for CO production in ionic liquid and acetonitrile mixed solution, compared to pristine CdS. The highest Faradaic efficiency of CO is 98.1 % on a Cl/CdS-NF-2 cathode with an excellent current density of 137.0 mA cm^-2 at -2.25 V versus ferrocene/ferrocenium (Fc/Fc⁺ , all potentials are versus Fc/Fc⁺ in this study). In particular, CO Faradaic efficiencies remained above 80 % in a wide potential range of -2.05 V to -2.45 V and a maximum partial current density (192.6 mA cm^-2 ) was achieved at -2.35 V. The Cl/CdS-NF-2, with appropriate Cl anions, displayed abundant active sites and a suitable electronic structure, resulting in outstanding ECR activity. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrated that Cl/CdS is beneficial for increasing the adsorption capacities of *COOH and *H, which can enhance the activity of the ECR toward CO and suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Keywords: CO; Cadmium sulfide; Chloride anion doping; Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction.