Research
In situ Nanostructuring of Polycrystalline Cu by an Organic Additive Promotes Electrocatalytic CO2R to Ethylene
Thevenon, A., Rosas-Hernandez, A., Peters, J., Agapie, T. In‐situ Nanostructuring and Stabilization of Polycrystalline Copper by an Organic Salt Additive Promotes Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Ethylene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201907935 (2019).
Scientific Achievement
In this work, we describe formation and stabilization of Cu nanostructures with an organic salt additive.
Significance and Impact
We have achieved high efficiency for the conversion of CO2 to C2H4.
Research Details
N,N’-ethylene-phenanthrolinium dibromide was used as an organic additive with Cu foils for electrochemical CO2 reduction in bicarbonate aqueous solutions.
Values of total current density up to -7 mA /cm2 were obtained with selectivity for C≥2 products up to 70%.
Ex situ SEM and AFM images after electrocatalysis revealed the presence of well-defined cubic nanostructures at the Cu surface.
Mechanistic studies showed that the organic additive is involved in the formation of the nanostructures, their stabilization during electrocatalysis by formation of a protective organic layer, and the promotion of C≥2 products.
Contact: agapie@caltech.edu
Nanostructured Cu surface stabilized by an organic coating for an enhanced selectivity for C≥2 products in CO2R.