Electrochemical CO2 reduction to ethylene by ultrathin CuO nanoplate arrays

Wei Liu, Pengbo Zhai, Aowen Li, Bo Wei, Kunpeng Si, Yi Wei, Xingguo Wang, Guangda Zhu, Qian Chen, Xiaokang Gu, Ruifeng Zhang, Wu Zhou and Yongji Gong ()
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Wei Liu: Beihang University
Pengbo Zhai: Qingdao University
Aowen Li: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Bo Wei: Beihang University
Kunpeng Si: Beihang University
Yi Wei: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Xingguo Wang: Beihang University
Guangda Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qian Chen: Beihang University
Xiaokang Gu: Beihang University
Ruifeng Zhang: Beihang University
Wu Zhou: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yongji Gong: Beihang University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to multi-carbon fuels and chemical feedstocks is an appealing approach to mitigate excessive CO2 emissions. However, the reported catalysts always show either a low Faradaic efficiency of the C2+ product or poor long-term stability. Herein, we report a facile and scalable anodic corrosion method to synthesize oxygen-rich ultrathin CuO nanoplate arrays, which form Cu/Cu2O heterogeneous interfaces through self-evolution during electrocatalysis. The catalyst exhibits a high C2H4 Faradaic efficiency of 84.5%, stable electrolysis for ~55 h in a flow cell using a neutral KCl electrolyte, and a full-cell ethylene energy efficiency of 27.6% at 200 mA cm−2 in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer. Mechanism analyses reveal that the stable nanostructures, stable Cu/Cu2O interfaces, and enhanced adsorption of the *OCCOH intermediate preserve selective and prolonged C2H4 production. The robust and scalable produced catalyst coupled with mild electrolytic conditions facilitates the practical application of electrochemical CO2 reduction.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29428-9

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