Electrochemical preparation of Ag/Cu and Au/Cu foams for electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO

Ag/Cu and Au/Cu foams were prepared by bubble-templated Cu electrodeposition and subsequent noble metal galvanic displacement for production of CO via the electrochemical conversion of CO2. As the displacement time was increased, the amounts of Ag and Au gradually increased, with accompanying changes in the pore size and wall thickness. Due to their morphological advantage, at low overpotential ranges the Ag/Cu and Au/Cu foams showed higher CO partial current densities than those of Ag and Au films, respectively. Based on the loading mass of noble metal, the Ag/Cu and Au/Cu foams exhibited cost-effectiveness for CO production. The minimized use of Ag and Au with enlarged surface area supported by porous Cu foams provided effective way to fabricate catalysts for electrochemical CO2 conversion to CO. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.