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Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Sn3O4 and SnO for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to high-added-value compounds

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Abstract

Sn-based electrocatalysts have recently been applied for CO2 reduction to generate fuels. Here, tin oxide crossed architectures (SnO) and petal-like Sn3O4 semiconductors were synthesized using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The synthesized materials were applied in electrochemical reduction of CO2 and promoted the formation of methanol, ethanol and acetone. The best condition (greatest amount of products) was obtained with − 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl for both electrocatalysts. For the first time, acetone formation was observed using both SnO and Sn3O4 materials. The SnO electrocatalyst exhibited the best electrochemical activity for CO2 reduction, ascribed to higher charge transfer corroborated by the higher current densities and lower resistance in the Nyquist diagram. Differences in methanol concentration obtained by the samples were ascribed to the different morphology and charge transfer over the films. The results showed that Sn-based electrocatalysts can be applied to generate important products, such as methanol and ethanol, aside from promoting acetone formation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) (Procs. 2019/18856-5, 2017/26219-0, 2017/13123-4, 2016/18057-7) for financial support. The authors are grateful to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Processes 154509/2018-3, 150223/2019-6), INCT-DATREN (FAPESP-2014/50945-4; CNPq- 465571/2014-0) and also to the support from FINEP 2018 (Proc. 0382/16). The authors thank for the XPS measurements, Procs. FAPESP 2013/07296-2. FEG-SEM facilities were provided by the IQ-UNESP.

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  1. Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara. 55 Prof. Francisco Degni St., Araraquara, SP, 14800-060, Brazil

    Fernanda da Costa Romeiro, Alysson Stefan Martins, João Angelo Lima Perini, Beatriz Costa e Silva, Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni & Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi

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  1. Fernanda da Costa Romeiro
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Contributions

Fernanda da Costa Romeiro was involved in conceptualization, investigation, methodology and writing—reviewing and editing. Alysson Stefan Martins was responsible for writing—reviewing and methodology. João Angelo Perini took part in methodology, investigation and writing—reviewing. Beatriz Costa e Silva participated in investigation and methodology. Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni and Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi contributed to resources, project administration, writing—reviewing and supervision.

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Correspondence to Fernanda da Costa Romeiro or Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi.

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Romeiro, F.d., Martins, A.S., Perini, J.A.L. et al. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Sn3O4 and SnO for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to high-added-value compounds. J Mater Sci 58, 3508–3519 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08230-y

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