Dynamic Restructuring of Cu7S4/Cu for Efficient CO2 Electro-reduction to Formate.

Abstract

Optimized catalytic properties and reactant adsorption energy played a crucial role in promoting CO2 electrocatalysis. Herein, Cu7S4/Cu underwent in situ dynamic restructuring to generate S-Cu2O/Cu hybrid catalyst for effective electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate that outperformed Cu2O/Cu and Cu7S4. Thermodynamic and in situ Raman spectra revealed that the optimized adsorption of the HCOO* intermediate on S-Cu2O/Cu was regulated and the H2 pathway (surface H) was suppressed by S-doping. Meanwhile, Cu7S4/Cu nanoflowers created abundant boundaries for ECR and strengthened the CO2 adsorption by inducing Cu. These findings provide a new perspective on synthetic methods for various electrocatalytic reduction processes.