Mesostructure‐Specific Configuration of *CO Adsorption for Selective CO<sub>2</sub> Electroreduction to C<sub>2+</sub> Products

The multi-carbon (C<sub>2+</sub>) alcohols produced by electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, such as ethanol and n-propanol, are considered as indispensable liquid energy carriers. In most C-C coupling cases, however, the concomitant gaseous C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> product results in the low selectivity of C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols. Here, we report rational construction of mesostructured CuO electrocatalysts, specifically mesoporous CuO (m-CuO) and cylindrical CuO (c-CuO), enables selective distribution of C<sub>2+</sub> products. The m-CuO and c-CuO show similar selectivity towards total C<sub>2+</sub> products (≥76 %), but the corresponding predominant products are C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols (55 %) and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> (52 %), respectively. The ordered mesostructure not only induces the surface hydrophobicity, but selectively tailors the adsorption configuration of *CO intermediate: m-CuO prefers bridged adsorption, whereas c-CuO favors top adsorption as revealed by in situ spectroscopies. Computational calculations unravel that bridged *CO adsorbate is prone to deep protonation into *OCH<sub>3</sub> intermediate, thus accelerating the coupling of *CO and *OCH<sub>3</sub> intermediates to generate C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols; by contrast, top *CO adsorbate is apt to undergo conventional C-C coupling process to produce C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>. This work illustrates selective C<sub>2+</sub> products distribution via mesostructure manipulation, and paves a new path into the design of efficient electrocatalysts with tunable adsorption configuration of key intermediates for targeted products.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Published
2024-09-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202413832
Citations
26
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.66

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article

Mesostructure‐Specific Configuration of *CO Adsorption for Selective CO2 Electroreduction to C2+ Products

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26 citations
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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article

Mesostructure‐Specific Configuration of *CO Adsorption for Selective CO2 Electroreduction to C2+ Products

Difei Xiao, Zaiqi Li, Hefeng Cheng, Bin Sun, Zeyan Wang, Ying Dai, Hongli Liu, Peng Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Zhaoke Zheng, Baibiao Huang
article en
26 citations

Abstract

The multi-carbon (C<sub>2+</sub>) alcohols produced by electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, such as ethanol and n-propanol, are considered as indispensable liquid energy carriers. In most C-C coupling cases, however, the concomitant gaseous C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> product results in the low selectivity of C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols. Here, we report rational construction of mesostructured CuO electrocatalysts, specifically mesoporous CuO (m-CuO) and cylindrical CuO (c-CuO), enables selective distribution of C<sub>2+</sub> products. The m-CuO and c-CuO show similar selectivity towards total C<sub>2+</sub> products (≥76 %), but the corresponding predominant products are C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols (55 %) and C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> (52 %), respectively. The ordered mesostructure not only induces the surface hydrophobicity, but selectively tailors the adsorption configuration of *CO intermediate: m-CuO prefers bridged adsorption, whereas c-CuO favors top adsorption as revealed by in situ spectroscopies. Computational calculations unravel that bridged *CO adsorbate is prone to deep protonation into *OCH<sub>3</sub> intermediate, thus accelerating the coupling of *CO and *OCH<sub>3</sub> intermediates to generate C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols; by contrast, top *CO adsorbate is apt to undergo conventional C-C coupling process to produce C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>. This work illustrates selective C<sub>2+</sub> products distribution via mesostructure manipulation, and paves a new path into the design of efficient electrocatalysts with tunable adsorption configuration of key intermediates for targeted products.

Angewandte Chemie International EditionVol. 64(1)
Shandong University (CN), University of Jinan (CN), Crystal Research (United States) (US), State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials
National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
2.66
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