Highly selective plasma-activated copper catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction to ethylene.

ABSTRACT: There is an urgent need to develop technologies that use renewable energy to convert waste products such as carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon fuels. Carbon dioxide can be electrochemically reduced to hydrocarbons over copper catalysts, although higher efficiency is required. We have developed oxidized copper catalysts displaying lower overpotentials for carbon dioxide electroreduction and record selectivity towards ethylene (60%) through facile and tunable plasma treatments. Herein we provide insight into the improved performance of these catalysts by combining electrochemical measurements with microscopic and spectroscopic characterization techniques. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy show that copper oxides are surprisingly

SUBMITTER: Mistry H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4931497 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature