Creating interfaces of Cu0/Cu+ in oxide-derived copper catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products

Abstract

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an effective approach to capture CO2 and convert it into value-added chemicals and fuels, thereby reducing excess CO2 emissions. Recent reports have shown that copper-based catalysts exhibit excellent performance in converting CO2 into multi-carbon compounds and hydrocarbons. However, theselectivityto the couplingproductsispoor. Therefore, tuningCO2-reductionselectivitytoward C2+productsover Cu-based catalyst is one of the most important issues in CO2RR. Herein, we prepare a nanosheet catalyst with interfaces of Cu0/Cu+. The catalyst achieves Faraday efficiency (FE) of C2+ over 50% in a wide potential window between − 1.2 V to − 1.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE). Moreover, the catalyst exhibits maximum FE of 44.5% and 58.9% towards C2H4 and C2+, with a partial current density of 10.5 mA cm−2 at − 1.4 V. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the interface of Cu0/Cu+ facilitates CC coupling to form C2+ products, while inhibits CO2conversion toC1products.