Asymmetrically Coordinated Ni‐Based Single‐Atom Catalyst Enables Ultra‐Wide Potential Window for Ampere‐Level CO <sub>2</sub> Electroreduction

ABSTRACT Conventional Ni–N 4 single‐atom catalysts (SACs) hold great promise in sustainable energy conversion and storage, but suffer from weak * COOH adsorption and narrow potential windows during CO 2 electroreduction (CO 2 RR). To address this limitation, herein we report an asymmetric Ni–N 3 O 1 SAC prepared via an oxygen‐mediated spatial confinement pyrolysis strategy. Theoretical calculations predict that this unique asymmetric coordination can effectively lower the * COOH formation energy, promote the interaction between the catalyst and * COOH, and suppress the competing hydrogen evolution reaction in CO 2 RR. The prepared Ni–N 3 O 1 SAC features a distorted planar quadrilateral structure and demonstrates exceptional performance in CO 2 ‐to‐CO conversion, with a maximum turnover frequency of 207 700 h −1 , a maximum CO partial current density of 810 mA cm −2 , and CO Faradaic efficiency of ≥ 99% over an ultra‐wide potential window of 2100 mV (−0.3 to −2.4 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) in a flow cell. A combination of in situ spectroscopic measurements verifies the reversible structural evolution and robust stability of the Ni–N 3 O 1 SAC under CO 2 RR conditions, as well as the strengthened * COOH formation and accelerated CO 2 activation kinetics. This work provides a feasible route for designing and synthesizing high‐performance asymmetrically coordinated SACs toward industrial CO 2 ‐to‐CO conversion.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-08-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.77715
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Type
article
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article

Asymmetrically Coordinated Ni‐Based Single‐Atom Catalyst Enables Ultra‐Wide Potential Window for Ampere‐Level CO 2 Electroreduction

Jinglin Yuan, Min Ge, Yanna Shui, Yufeng Chen et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
article

Asymmetrically Coordinated Ni‐Based Single‐Atom Catalyst Enables Ultra‐Wide Potential Window for Ampere‐Level CO 2 Electroreduction

Jinglin Yuan, Min Ge, Yanna Shui, Yufeng Chen, Zhihu Sun, Ruichao Xu, Shi He, Chao Wang, Wenxue He, Yajuan Feng, Zhenyang Dai, Ya Pan, Weiqi Lu, Yong Zhang
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conventional Ni–N 4 single‐atom catalysts (SACs) hold great promise in sustainable energy conversion and storage, but suffer from weak * COOH adsorption and narrow potential windows during CO 2 electroreduction (CO 2 RR). To address this limitation, herein we report an asymmetric Ni–N 3 O 1 SAC prepared via an oxygen‐mediated spatial confinement pyrolysis strategy. Theoretical calculations predict that this unique asymmetric coordination can effectively lower the * COOH formation energy, promote the interaction between the catalyst and * COOH, and suppress the competing hydrogen evolution reaction in CO 2 RR. The prepared Ni–N 3 O 1 SAC features a distorted planar quadrilateral structure and demonstrates exceptional performance in CO 2 ‐to‐CO conversion, with a maximum turnover frequency of 207 700 h −1 , a maximum CO partial current density of 810 mA cm −2 , and CO Faradaic efficiency of ≥ 99% over an ultra‐wide potential window of 2100 mV (−0.3 to −2.4 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) in a flow cell. A combination of in situ spectroscopic measurements verifies the reversible structural evolution and robust stability of the Ni–N 3 O 1 SAC under CO 2 RR conditions, as well as the strengthened * COOH formation and accelerated CO 2 activation kinetics. This work provides a feasible route for designing and synthesizing high‐performance asymmetrically coordinated SACs toward industrial CO 2 ‐to‐CO conversion.

Advanced Functional Materials
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), Duke University (US), Jining University (CN), National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (CN)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 26%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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