# Countering in situ reduction of SnO2 during electrochemical CO2 conversion via oxidative pulsing

## TL;DR

Using periodic electric pulses helps maintain the performance of a tin-based catalyst during CO2 conversion, making the process more sustainable.

## Contribution

This is the first study to apply oxidative pulsing to a tin oxide catalyst for CO2 electroreduction, extending its lifetime.

## Key findings

- Periodic anodic pulses improved formate faradaic efficiency by 7 percentage points after 6 hours.
- The pomegranate-structured SnO2@C nanosphere retained 78% efficiency with pulsing versus 71% without.
- Oxidative pulsing slows in situ reduction of tin oxide catalysts during CO2 conversion.

## Abstract

The application of periodic anodic pulses in CO2 electroreduction (p-eCO2R) offers a promising route to counteract the inevitable in situ reduction of metal oxide catalysts. This study demonstrates the first application of p-eCO2R to a catalyst composed solely of a tin (oxide) active phase, using a pomegranate-structured SnO2@C nanosphere. Periodic, prolonged anodic pulses (30 s) at 0.2 V vs. RHE improved faradaic efficiency towards formate after 6 hours, retaining 78 ± 2% versus 71 ± 6% under potentiostatic conditions, suggesting p-eCO2R can extend Sn-based catalyst lifetimes for more sustainable CO2 conversion.

The application of periodic anodic pulses in CO2 electroreduction (p-eCO2R) offers a promising route to counteract the inevitable in situ reduction of metal oxide catalysts.