Selective CO₂ Electroreduction to Ethylene and Multicarbon Alcohols via Electrolyte-Driven Nanostructuring.

ABSTRACT: Production of multicarbon products (C₂₊ ) from CO₂ electroreduction reaction (CO₂ RR) is highly desirable for storing renewable energy and reducing carbon emission. The electrochemical synthesis of CO₂ RR catalysts that are highly selective for C₂₊ products via electrolyte-driven nanostructuring is presented. Nanostructured Cu catalysts synthesized in the presence of specific anions selectively convert CO₂ into ethylene and multicarbon alcohols in aqueous 0.1?m KHCO₃ solution, with the iodine-modified catalyst displaying the highest Faradaic efficiency of 80?% and a partial geometric current density of ca. 31.2?mA?cm^-2 for C₂₊ products at -0.9?V vs. RHE. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and quasi in?situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed that the high C₂₊ selectivity of these nanostructured Cu catalysts can be attributed to the highly roughened surface morphology induced by the synthesis, presence of subsurface oxygen and Cu⁺ species, and the adsorbed halides.

SUBMITTER: Gao D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6899694 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature