Biomass-derived carbon frameworks for oxygen and carbon dioxide electrochemical reduction

Synthesis of novel bifunctional electrocatalysts based on nitrogen-doped carbon materials for both O 2 - and CO 2 - reduction reactions (ORR and CO 2 RR) becomes a promising strategy to promote the development of energy storage and the carbon cycle. Herein, insect-wing-derived carbon frameworks are synthesized via a one-step pyrolysis to implement the electroreduction of O 2 and CO 2 . A four-electron dominated process, identical to the Pt-catalyzed ORR, but better methanol tolerance and electrochemical stabilities, is validated using the resulting catalysts. Further, they exhibit 24.3–56.4% faradic efficiencies for CO production at a moderate applied potential (– 0.9 V) and good durabilities (20 h). This efficient performance can be ascribed to the structural advantages and the nitrogen dopants. The present work provides a novel strategy for developing bifunctional electrocatalysts without the use of extensive synthesis procedures. Graphical abstract Insect-wing-derived carbon frameworks were developed as bifunctional catalysts for oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction. The revealed activity difference of these carbon frameworks can provide some guideline for designing advanced bifunctional electrocatalysts.