Fabrication of SnSe₂-graphene nanosheets for highly effectively electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to formate is an extremely attractive route. Here, we developed a SnSe₂-graphene composite catalyst, and SnSe₂ nanosheets were linked to graphene by Sn-O-C bonds to form complicated hierarchical nanosheet structure. Due to the intrinsic activity of SnSe₂ and the modification of graphene, the catalyst performed excellent electrocatalytic efficacy for the reduction of CO₂ to formate, with a maximum Faraday efficiency up to 95.1% at -0.9 V (vs. RHE) and a current density of 11.8 mA cm⁻² under the optimal conditions. Kinetic experiments indicated that the SnSe₂-graphene composite achieved efficient formate selectivity for CO₂ reduction by increasing the initial transfer rate of electrons to the CO₂ molecule.