Pyrolyzing soft template-containing poly(ionic liquid) into hierarchical N-doped porous carbon for electroreduction of carbon dioxide

Heteroatom-doped carbon materials have demonstrated great potential in the electrochemical reduction reaction of CO2 (CO2RR) due to their versatile structure and function. However, rational control remains one challenge. In this work, we reported a unique precursor soft template-containing porous poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) that was directly synthesized via free-radical self-polymerization ionic liquid monomer template route. Variation carbonization temperature direct pyrolysis process without any additive yielded series with facile adjustable textural properties N species. Significantly, integration soft-template PIL led formation hierarchical material higher surface area larger pore size than from template-free precursor. CO2RR CO, champion catalyst gave Faraday efficiency 83.0% current density 1.79 mA?cm?2 at ?0.9 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE). The abundant graphite species structure, especially small-/ultra-micropores were revealed enable better performance.