We report a cost-effective, straightforward synthesis of a novel electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO2 to formate, which achieves nearly complete Faradaic Efficiency (FE) at an overpotential () of 0.88...We report a cost-effective, straightforward synthesis of a novel electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO2 to formate, which achieves nearly complete Faradaic Efficiency (FE) at an overpotential () of 0.88 V under ambient conditions. The electrocatalyst was prepared using bismuth subsalicylate as precursor and consists of bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) with an average diameter of 5.5 nm supported on activated carbon.