Sub-Second Time-Resolved Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Reveals Dynamic CO Intermediates during Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction on Copper.

ABSTRACT: The electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) reduction reaction (CO₂ RR) into hydrocarbons is a promising approach for greenhouse gas mitigation, but many details of this dynamic reaction remain elusive. Here, time-resolved surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TR-SERS) is employed to successfully monitor the dynamics of CO₂ RR intermediates and Cu surfaces with sub-second time resolution. Anodic treatment at 1.55 V vs. RHE and subsequent surface oxide reduction (below -0.4 V vs. RHE) induced roughening of the Cu electrode surface, which resulted in hotspots for TR-SERS, enhanced time resolution (down to ≈0.7 s) and fourfold improved CO₂ RR efficiency toward ethylene. With TR-SERS, the initial restructuring of the Cu surface was followed (<7 s), aft

SUBMITTER: An H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8362134 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature