Unveiling hydrocerussite as an electrochemically stable active phase for efficient carbon dioxide electroreduction to formate

For most metal-containing CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) electrocatalysts, the unavoidable self-reduction to zero-valence metal will promote hydrogen evolution, hence lowering the CO2RR selectivity. Thus it is challenging to design a stable phase with resistance to electrochemical self-reduction as well as high CO2RR activity. Herein, we report a scenario to develop hydrocerussite as a stable and active electrocatalyst via in situ conversion of a complex precursor, tannin-lead(II) (TA-Pb) complex. A comprehensive characterization reveals the in situ transformation of TA-Pb to cerussite (PbCO3), and sequentially to hydrocerussite (Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2), which finally serves as a stable and active phase under CO2RR condition. Both experiments and theoretical calculations confirm the high activity and selectivity over hydrocerussite. This work not only offers a new approach of enhancing the selectivity in CO2RR by suppressing the self-reduction of electrode materials, but also provides a strategy for studying the reaction mechanism and active phases of electrocatalysts.