Cation Dehydration by Surface-Grafted Phenyl Groups for Enhanced C₂₊ Production in Cu-Catalyzed Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction.

ABSTRACT: The challenge to produce multicarbon (C₂₊) products in high current densities in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR) has motivated intense research. However, the ability of solvated cations to tune and activate water for C₂₊ production in the CO₂RR has been overlooked. In this study, we report the incorporation of a covalently grown layer of functionalized phenyl groups on the Cu surface that leads to a 7-fold increase in ethylene production (to -530 mA cm^-2) and a 6-fold increase in C₂₊ products (to -760 mA cm^-2). Our mechanistic study, notably by in situ infrared, isotope effect, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, reveals that the surface grafting provokes the reduction of the hydrat

SUBMITTER: Chang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12447509 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature