The Reconstruction of BiTeO Nanorods for Efficient and PH-universal Electrochemical CO Reduction

The electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) to generate chemical fuels such as formate presents a promising route to a carbon-neutral future. However, its practical application is hindered by the competing CO production and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as the lack of pH-universal catalysts. Here, Te-modified Bi nanorods (Te-Bi NRs) were synthesized through in situ reconstruction of BiTeO NRs under the CORR condition. Our study illustrates that the complex reconstruction process of BiTeO NRs during CORR could be decoupled into three distinct steps, i.e., the destruction of BiTeO, the formation of Te/Bi phases, and the dissolution of Te. The thus-obtained Te-Bi NRs exhibit remarkably high performance in CORR towards formate production, showing high activity, selectivity, and stability across all pH conditions (acidic, neutral, and alkaline). In a flow cell reactor under neutral, alkaline, or acidic conditions, the catalysts achieved HCOOH Faradaic efficiencies of up to 94.3 %, 96.4 %, and 91.0 %, respectively, at a high current density of 300 mA cm. Density functional theory calculations, along with operando spectral measurements, reveal that Te manipulates the Bi sites to an electron-deficient state, enhancing the adsorption strength of the *OCHO intermediate, and significantly suppressing the competing HER and CO production. This study highlights the substantial influence of catalyst reconstruction under operational conditions and offers insights into designing highly active and stable electrocatalysts towards CORR.