Copper-Embedded Aminothiazole-Engineered Nanocatalyst for Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂ to Alcohols

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2ER) to value-added products such as methanol and ethanol is gaining significant attention as a sustainable solution to excess carbon footprints and increased energy demand. To this end, we present the electrochemical preparation of a copper-coordinated aminothiazole metallopolymer (CAM), which fosters efficient charge transfer through multiple redox couples. The prepared CAM electrode displayed excellent efficiency toward the selective production of methanol and ethanol at a low potential of −0.73 V vs RHE, marking a significant achievement. Notably, the incorporation of Cu species along with the nitrogen- and sulfur-containing heterocyclic group of polyaminothiazole (AMp) allowed easy stabilization of the intermediates over the electrode surface, with a marked shift from C1 to C2 product formation. The study explores the dynamic aspects of the electrocatalyst leading to such pronounced selectivity. These findings are pivotal in encouraging more research toward the profitable production of electrofuels, particularly for decarbonizing the transportation and industrial sectors.