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6CCVD Research

Enhancement of the Catalytic Effect on the Electrochemical Conversion of CO2 to Formic Acid Using MXene (Ti3C2Tx)-Modified Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode

At a Glance

Section titled “At a Glance”
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2023-06-06
JournalEnergies
AuthorsPrastika Krisma Jiwanti, Asmaul Mashad Alfaza, Grandprix T.M. Kadja, Suci A.C. Natalya, Fuja Sagita
InstitutionsAirlangga University, Keio University
Citations12
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Technical Documentation & Analysis: MXene-Modified BDD for CO2 Reduction

Section titled “Technical Documentation & Analysis: MXene-Modified BDD for CO2 Reduction”

Executive Summary

Section titled “Executive Summary”

This research successfully demonstrates the use of MXene (Ti3C2Tx)-modified Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) electrodes for highly efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) to Formic Acid (HCOOH). 6CCVD specializes in providing the foundational BDD material necessary to replicate and scale this high-performance application.

  • High Efficiency CO2RR: The MXene-BDD electrode achieved a maximum Faradaic Efficiency (FE) of approximately 97% for HCOOH production.
  • Overpotential Suppression: Modification with MXene significantly lowered the CO2 reduction overpotential, shifting the optimal reduction potential from approximately -2.2 V (bare BDD) to a highly positive -1.3 V (vs. Ag/AgCl).
  • Material Foundation: The core electrode was a 1% (B/C) BDD film fabricated via Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (MP-CVD) on a silicon substrate.
  • Maximum Yield: The optimal MXene-BDD 2.0 electrode produced a high HCOOH concentration of 28.9 ppm at the low reduction potential of -1.3 V.
  • Critical Instability Identified: The study noted significant instability in the drop-casted MXene layer, reporting a 79.9% decrease in MXene signal after 1 hour of reduction, highlighting a need for robust catalyst integration.
  • 6CCVD Value Proposition: 6CCVD provides custom, high-purity BDD substrates and advanced metalization services (Au, Pt, Ti, etc.) to chemically anchor 2D materials like MXene, solving the critical stability challenge identified in this research.

Technical Specifications

Section titled “Technical Specifications”

The following hard data points were extracted from the research paper detailing the performance and material characteristics of the MXene-BDD system.

ParameterValueUnitContext
BDD Fabrication MethodMP-CVDN/AUsed to produce BDD on Si (111) wafer.
Boron Doping Ratio1% (B/C)N/AConcentration of Boron in the BDD film.
Working Electrode Area0.754cm2Geometric area used for CO2RR experiments.
Optimal MXene Concentration2.0mg/mLYielded highest HCOOH concentration and FE.
Bare BDD Reduction Potential~-2.2VPotential required for HCOOH production (vs. Ag/AgCl).
Optimal Modified BDD Potential-1.3VPotential yielding maximum FE for MXene-BDD 2.0 (vs. Ag/AgCl).
Maximum HCOOH Concentration28.9ppmHighest yield obtained on MXene-BDD 2.0 at -1.3 V.
Maximum Faradaic Efficiency (FE)~97%Achieved using MXene-BDD 2.0 at -1.3 V.
MXene Stability Loss79.9%Decrease in MXene oxidation peak current after 1h reduction.
Ti Weight Load (MXene-BDD 2.0)7.14%Confirmed presence of MXene on the BDD surface via EDX.

Key Methodologies

Section titled “Key Methodologies”

The experimental procedure relied heavily on high-quality MP-CVD BDD substrates and precise electrochemical control.

  1. BDD Synthesis: 1% (B/C) Boron-Doped Diamond film was grown on a Silicon (111) wafer using Microwave Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (MP-CVD) over 6 hours.
  2. BDD Pretreatment: The bare BDD electrode was electrochemically cleaned using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) for 40 cycles in 0.1 M H2SO4, spanning a wide potential range of -2.5 V to +2.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl).
  3. MXene Preparation: Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets were prepared via LiF-HCl treatment.
  4. Electrode Modification: MXene solutions (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/mL) were prepared. 20 ”L of the solution was drop-casted onto the BDD surface and dried at room temperature.
  5. Electrochemical Cell Setup: A two-compartment, closed electrochemical cell was used, separated by a Nafion ion exchange membrane.
  6. Electrolyte: The cathode compartment contained 0.5 M KCl electrolyte, and the anode compartment contained 0.5 M KOH electrolyte.
  7. Gas Aeration: The electrolyte was purged with N2 gas for 10 min (to remove dissolved O2) followed by CO2 gas aeration for 15 min (to achieve optimal dissolved CO2 concentration, stabilizing pH at 3.7).
  8. CO2RR Measurement: Chronoamperometry was performed for 1 hour at specific reduction potentials (-1.3 V, -1.5 V, and -1.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl).
  9. Product Analysis: HCOOH product concentration was quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities

Section titled “6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities”

6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the high-performance BDD substrates required for this advanced CO2 reduction research and to provide engineering solutions that address the critical stability limitations identified in the study.

Research Requirement6CCVD Solution & CapabilityTechnical Advantage
High-Purity BDD SubstratesHeavy Boron-Doped Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD-BDD) Wafers.We provide MP-CVD BDD films with precise and uniform boron incorporation (replicating the 1% B/C ratio) necessary for high conductivity and the wide potential window required for CO2RR.
Electrode DimensionsCustom Dimensions up to 125mm (PCD) and Precision Laser Cutting.While the paper used 0.754 cm2 electrodes, 6CCVD can supply inch-size PCD wafers for large-scale testing or precisely cut custom geometries, facilitating both R&D and industrial scale-up.
Surface Instability (MXene Loss)Advanced Metalization and Catalyst Anchoring Services.The reported 79.9% loss of the drop-casted MXene layer is a major limitation. 6CCVD offers internal metalization capabilities (e.g., Ti/Pt/Au, Ti/W/Cu) to create a chemically stable intermediate layer, allowing for robust, covalent anchoring of 2D materials like MXene, significantly improving long-term stability and reusability.
Surface FinishUltra-Low Roughness Polishing.We offer polishing down to Ra < 5nm for inch-size PCD, ensuring highly uniform surfaces for reproducible thin-film deposition or drop-casting of MXene nanosheets, optimizing catalytic site exposure.
Material OptionsSingle Crystal BDD (SCD-BDD) for Ultra-High Purity.For researchers seeking maximum control over grain boundaries and defect density, we offer SCD-BDD films (0.1”m - 500”m thickness) to investigate the fundamental catalytic mechanisms without polycrystalline interference.

Engineering Support

Section titled “Engineering Support”

6CCVD’s in-house team of PhD material scientists and electrochemists specializes in diamond surface functionalization and catalyst integration. We can assist researchers in optimizing BDD material selection (doping level, thickness, and surface termination) for similar CO2 utilization projects, focusing specifically on developing stable, chemically bonded interfaces for 2D catalysts like MXene.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly. We offer global shipping (DDU default, DDP available) to ensure rapid delivery of your specialized diamond substrates.

View Original Abstract

The rising concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) as one of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a major source of worry. Electrochemical reduction of CO2 is one of many ways to convert CO2 gas into usable compounds. An electrochemical technique was applied in this study to reduce CO2 using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) working electrode modified with MXene (Ti3C2Tx) material to improve electrode performance. MXene concentrations of 0.5 mg/mL (MXene-BDD 0.5), 1.0 mg/mL (MXene-BDD 1.0), and 2.0 mg/mL (MXene-BDD 2.0) were drop-casted onto the BDD surface. MXene was effectively deposited on top of the BDD surface, with Ti weight loads of 0.12%, 4.06%, and 7.14% on MXene-BDD 0.5, MXene-BDD 1.0, and MXene-BDD 2.0, respectively. The modified working electrode was employed for CO2 electroreduction with optimal CO2 gas aeration. The existence of the MXene substance in BDD reduced the electroreduction overpotential of CO2. For the final result, we found that the MXene-BDD 2.0 electrode effectively generated the most formic acid product with a maximum reduction potential as low as −1.3 V (vs. Ag/AgCl).

Tech Support

Section titled “Tech Support”

Original Source

Section titled “Original Source”

References

Section titled “References”
  1. 2018 - Carbon Emission Issues in Indonesia
  2. 2022 - Global Carbon Budget 2021, Raport Earth System Science Data [Crossref]
  3. 2012 - Global Warming Mitigation and Renewable Energy Policy Development from the Kyoto Protocol to the Copenhagen Accord—A Comment [Crossref]
  4. 2017 - CO2 Catalysis [Crossref]
  5. 2020 - Global Carbon Budget 2020 [Crossref]
  6. 2017 - CO2 Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach [Crossref]
  7. 2016 - Electro- and Photoreduction of Carbon Dioxide: The Twain Shall Meet at Copper Oxide/Copper Interfaces [Crossref]
  8. 2019 - Recent Advances in Industrial CO2 Electroreduction [Crossref]
  9. 2009 - Electrocatalytic and Homogeneous Approaches to Conversion of CO2 to Liquid Fuels [Crossref]
  10. 2016 - Electrochemical CO2 Reduction: Electrocatalyst, Reaction Mechanism, and Process Engineering [Crossref]

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