Electrochemical Performance of Electrodeposited Sn-Based Catalyst for Reduction of CO₂ to Formic Acid (C2026-00272)

Adriana Vargas, Kranthi Maniam, Shiladitya Paul

Formic acid is an important chemical used in industry and in formic acid fuel cells. Although metals like lead, bismuth, mercury, and cadmium are active catalysts for its production, their toxicity and environmental impact limit large-scale application. This study, conducted as part of the REUSE project, focuses on tin (Sn)-based catalysts due to their low toxicity, high catalytic activity, and good selectivity. However, maintaining long-term stability under industrially relevant conditions such as high current densities and acidic media is challenging. We investigate the stability of halide-free, shape-controlled Sn catalysts electrodeposited on carbon paper with a microporous layer. Electrochemical techniques, including potentiodynamic polarisation and cyclic voltammetry, were used to evaluate the Sn-based catalyst performance. Results show that catalyst shape and orientation affect electrochemical behaviour. These findings offer promising insight into scalable CO₂ utilisation using non-precious materials for sustainable formic acid production.
This project (REUSE) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101172954. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.