Copper nanoparticle ensembles for selective electroreduction of CO₂ to C₂-C₃ products.

ABSTRACT: Direct conversion of carbon dioxide to multicarbon products remains as a grand challenge in electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Various forms of oxidized copper have been demonstrated as electrocatalysts that still require large overpotentials. Here, we show that an ensemble of Cu nanoparticles (NPs) enables selective formation of C₂-C₃ products at low overpotentials. Densely packed Cu NP ensembles underwent structural transformation during electrolysis into electrocatalytically active cube-like particles intermixed with smaller nanoparticles. Ethylene, ethanol, and n-propanol are the major C₂-C₃ products with onset potential at -0.53 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) and C₂-C₃ faradaic efficiency (FE)

SUBMITTER: Kim D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5635920 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature