Lewis-base ligand-reshaped interfacial hydrogen-bond network boosts CO₂ electrolysis.

ABSTRACT: Both the catalyst and electrolyte strongly impact the performance of CO₂ electrolysis. Despite substantial progress in catalysts, it remains highly challenging to tailor electrolyte compositions and understand their functions at the catalyst interface. Here, we report that the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and its analogs, featuring strong Lewis acid-base interaction with metal cations, are selected as electrolyte additives to reshape the catalyst-electrolyte interface for promoting CO₂ electrolysis. Mechanistic studies reveal that EDTA molecules are dynamically assembled toward interface regions in response to bias potential due to strong Lewis acid-base interaction of EDTA^4--K⁺. As a result, the original hydrogen-bond network among int

SUBMITTER: Ge W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11259048 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature