FACILE AND SCALABLE SYNTHESIS OF CU2O-SNO2 CATALYST FOR THE PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CO2 CONVERSION

CO2 conversion into high-value-added products is becoming increasingly attractive to find substitutes for fossil-based ones and tackle the environmental crisis. Herein, a noble, simple, reproducible, and scalable Cu2O-SnO2photo-electrocatalyst was synthesized and characterized. Coupling cuprous oxide with tin oxide allowed for protecting unstable Cu+1species from photo-corrosion. Evidence of the SnO2stabilization role were found via chronoamperometry tests under chopped light and XPS analysis. An optimized catalytic ink was developed to prepare the photocathodes. The CO2photo-electroreduction tests demonstrated a prevalent production of CO and formate with Faradaic efficiencies of 35.47% and 19.58%, respectively, and a good system stability. Sunlight illumination demonstrated to play a major role to hinder H2evolution and promote ≥C1+products formation.