Researchers led by Prof. MENG Guowen and Prof. TANG Haibin at the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed self-supported electrodes that improve the conversion rate of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and n-propanol.
The related findings were published in Energy & Environmental Materials and ACS Nano .
Electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction uses electricity to convert CO 2 into useful chemicals and fuels. However, conventional electrodes often rely on polymer binders, which can affect their performance and stability. Meanwhile, producing multicarbon products such as n-propanol remains particularly challenging.
In this study, the researchers addressed these issues by using a three-dimensional porous anodic aluminum oxide (3D-AAO) template, which has transverse pores interconnecting the longitudinal pores, to make self-supported ordered nanowire array electrodes without polymer binders.
For CO 2 -to-CO conversion, the team developed a three-dimensional interconnected silver nanowire electrode called 3D-ICAg. The scaffold-like ordered and parallel-arranged silver nanowire array structure provides open pathways for reactants and products, good electrical contact, and rich active sites.
In an H-type electrolytic cell, the electrode achieved a CO Faradaic efficiency of 97.28% with a high current density of 59.06 mA cm -2 and remained stable for 50 hours. In situ Raman spectroscopy was also used to study the reaction process.
The team then used the same approach to develop a three-dimensional interconnected copper nanowire electrode, GB-ICCu, for producing multicarbon products. The electrode contains numerous surface grain boundaries, which help activate CO 2 and promote carbon-carbon bond formation. Combined with the nanoconfinement effect induced by the interconnected nanowire, the electrode achieved an n-propanol Faradaic efficiency of 17.47% in an H-type electrolytic cell. In a flow cell, its partial current density reached 77.7 mA cm -2 .
The two works demonstrate the potential of self-supported nanowire electrodes for CO 2 electroreduction. By removing polymer binders and using a three-dimensional scaffold-like structure, the electrodes provide better access to active sites and improve the movement of reactants and products, while also maintaining stable operation.
Energy & Environmental Materials
Three-Dimensionally Interconnected Silver Nanowire Membrane for Efficient and Selective Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide to Carbon Monoxide
10-Aug-2026