Asymmetric, Corner‐Sharing CuO <sub>5</sub> and CuO <sub>6</sub> Motifs in Cu‐Based Metallic Perovskite Oxides Boosting Asymmetric C─C Coupling for CO <sub>2</sub> Electroreduction to C <sub>2+</sub>
Cu-based perovskite oxides feature significant potential for CO<sub>2</sub> electroreduction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) but encounter insufficient C<sub>2+</sub> selectivity primarily due to the inherent symmetric charge distribution at Cu sites hindering asymmetric C─C coupling. Here we report a unique type of Cu-based metallic perovskite oxides with asymmetric, corner-sharing CuO<sub>5</sub> and CuO<sub>6</sub> motifs to boost asymmetric C─C coupling for efficient CO<sub>2</sub>-to-C<sub>2+</sub> conversion. For the proof-of-concept catalyst of La<sub>0.8</sub>Ba<sub>0.2</sub>CuO<sub>3-δ</sub>, their ordered, corner-sharing CuO<sub>5</sub> pyramids and CuO<sub>6</sub> octahedra feature localized charge density redistribution, creating abundant asymmetric Cu─Cu dual sites with distinct electronic structures and also strengthening Cu─O covalency. In CO<sub>2</sub>RR (in both alkaline and acidic media), La<sub>0.8</sub>Ba<sub>0.2</sub>CuO<sub>3-δ</sub> greatly promotes C<sub>2+</sub> formation while producing negligible CH<sub>4</sub>, showing a Faradaic efficiency ratio (C<sub>2+</sub> to CH<sub>4</sub>) of up to 180. Moreover, La<sub>0.8</sub>Ba<sub>0.2</sub>CuO<sub>3-δ</sub>, achieving a remarkable C<sub>2+</sub> Faradaic efficiency of 85.0% at 400 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>, together with well-boosted stability, outperforms previously reported Cu-based-perovskite catalysts. Our experiments and theoretical calculations attribute the superb performance mainly to the following factors: the asymmetric CuO<sub>5</sub>─CuO<sub>6</sub> sites promoting differentiated *CO adsorption/hydrogenation to favor asymmetric *CO─*CHO coupling; the strengthened Cu─O covalency stabilizing the Cu sites. Extending this strategy to two additional pairs of Cu-based perovskite oxides generates similarly successful results.
Authors
- Yongfa Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8528-509X)
- Hongyan Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5454-2759)
- Heqing Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8964-1311)
- Xuezeng Tian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4563-1960)
- Jun‐Jie Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8201-1285)
- Xiangdong Liu
- Zhenbao Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5443-474X)
- Zitao Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6111-7750)
- Yu Zhang
- Lei Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2737-5091)
- Jiawei Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5034-3212)
Institutions
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Linyi University (CN)
- Nanjing Forestry University (CN)
- South China Normal University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Published
- 2025-06-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202511546
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.45