Charge redistribution dynamics in chalcogenide-stabilized cuprous electrocatalysts unleash ampere-scale partial current toward formate production.

ABSTRACT: Electrochemical CO₂ reduction to formate offers a sustainable route, but achieving high selectivity on transition metal catalysts remains a significant challenge, which is typically favored on p-block metals. Here, we demonstrate that chalcogenide-stabilized cuprous enables near-complete formate selectivity through a charge redistribution mechanism induced by chalcogenides. Using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected XAS, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy, we reveal that Cu-chalcogen interactions stabilize Cu⁺, preventing over-reduction to Cu⁰ and thereby modulating CO₂ adsorption and intermediate binding. This stabilization enhances the *OCHO pathway, shifting product distribution entirely toward form

SUBMITTER: Tian FZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12552683 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature