Excess Cations Alter *CO Intermediate Configuration and Product Selectivity of Cu in Acidic Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction Reaction.

ABSTRACT: Concentrated cations are often employed to promote electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) selectivity in acidic electrolytes. Here, we investigate the influence of excess cations on the *CO adsorption configuration and the product distribution of the CO₂RR. Operando attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) reveals that increasing the Cs⁺ concentration shifts the preference of the *CO intermediate on the Cu surface from the atop (*CO_atop) to the bridge (*CO_bridge) configuration. This transition leads to a sharp decline in C-C coupling and an increase in the hydrogen evolution reaction at high Cs⁺ concentrations (0.7 and 1.0 M) under acidic conditions

SUBMITTER: Yoo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006993 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature