CNT modified by mesoporous carbon anchored by Ni nanoparticles for CO2 electrochemical reduction

The design of novel catalysts for efficient electroreduction of CO2 into value‐added chemicals is a promising approach to alleviate the energy crisis. Herein, we successfully modify the carbon nanotube by a layer of mesoporous carbon shell anchored by nickel (Ni) nanoparticles. Ni species effectively enable carbon deposition derived from pyrolysis of surfactant 1‐hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide to form a mesoporous carbon shell. At the same time, Ni nanoparticles can be embedded in the mesoporous carbon shell due to the confinement effect. Owing to the dispersive Ni nanoparticles and N‐doping active sites of mesoporous carbon, the as‐prepared electrocatalyst exhibits exciting catalytic performance for the selective reduction of CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) with a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 98% at a moderate overpotential of −0.81 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) and a high partial current density of 60 mA cm−2 in H‐cell with an aqueous electrolyte. With the aid of nickel chloride, a layer of mesoporous carbon shell anchored with nickel nanoparticles was modified on the surface of carbon nanotubes by the pyrolysis deposition method to enhance the selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide.