Aziridine Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Selective CO2 Reduction to CO

The constant increase of CO2 levels in the atmosphere is directly linked to global warming issues. One promising method to mitigate CO2 impact while providing a means of energy storage, is the electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) into chemicals of added value. To date, Ag and Au-based electrocatalysts exhibit the best performance for conversion of CO2 to CO, but they irremediably suffer of poor sustainability. On this ground metal-free systems, in particular N-doped carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), have recently emerged as attractive alternatives but the nature of their active sites for CO2RR remains highly controversial. In this contribution we report the chemical decoration of MWCNTs with NH-aziridine groups (MW@NAz) and their application as highly efficient and selective electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction into CO. MW@NAz provides, at the same time, a privileged view-point on the structure-reactivity relationship of N-CNMs for the comprehension of the underlying CO2RR mechanism.