Synthesis and electrocatalytic performance of Cu-Pb/RGO composite for efficient CO₂ reduction to methanol

• Cu–Pb/RGO composites synthesized for efficient electrochemical CO₂ reduction. • Synergistic Cu and Pb active sites enhance CO₂ conversion to methanol. • Graphene oxide ensures uniform dispersion and improved conductivity. • CO₂-saturated LSV confirms higher current and catalytic performance. • Cu-Pb/RGO shows superior activity over single-metal or GO catalysts. The escalating concentration of atmospheric CO₂ highlights the urgent need for efficient electrocatalysts to facilitate carbon dioxide reduction reactions (CO₂RR). In this study, a copper-lead (Cu-Pb)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite was synthesized and evaluated for its performance in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to value-added products, particularly methanol. The structural and compositional properties of graphene oxide (GO), Cu-Pb, and Cu-Pb/RGO were characterized using FT-IR, XRD, EDX, and XPS techniques. BET surface area analysis revealed significant enhancements, with values of 9.22, 7.52, and 7.77 m²/g for GO, Cu-Pb, and Cu-Pb/RGO, respectively. Electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry (CA) revealed that the Cu–Pb/RGO composite exhibited the lowest solution resistance (8.3 Ω) and the highest current density (–12.3 mA cm⁻² at –1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl), highlighting its enhanced charge transfer kinetics and superior energy storage performance. LSV results confirmed the ability of all materials to promote CO₂RR by adsorbing intermediate species and suppressing hydrogen evolution, with the Cu-Pb/RGO composite showing the highest catalytic activity and selectivity for methanol production. These findings position the Cu-Pb/RGO composite as a promising candidate for efficient and selective CO₂ electroreduction.

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