Dual Locking of Cu <sup>+</sup> /Cu <sup>0</sup> Interface and Vacancy Defects via Al‐Doping for Efficient Electroreduction of CO <sub>2</sub> to C <sub>2+</sub> Products

Multi-carbon (C<sub>2+</sub>) products from the electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) are highly desirable due to their energy density and commercial value. Cu-based catalysts are the only known materials capable of producing C<sub>2+</sub> products with appreciable efficiency. However, the low *CO intermediate coverage and sluggish C-C coupling kinetics hinder their selectivity. Herein, an Al-doped copper hydroxyfluoride (Al-CuOHF) catalyst that combines dynamic reconstruction with electronic modulation is reported. In/ex situ CO<sub>2</sub>RR characterization confirm that partial Al dissolution drives in situ reconstruction of porous Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu heterostructures with abundant oxygen vacancies (O<sub>v</sub>), while residual Al stabilizes Cu<sup>+</sup> species and F-O<sub>v</sub> Lewis acid-base pairs. In situ Raman spectroscopy directly evidences enhanced *CO adsorption on restructured surfaces. These synergistic effects facilitate CO<sub>2</sub> activation, elevate *CO coverage, and reduce the energy barrier for C-C coupling. Consequently, Al-CuOHF delivers a remarkable C<sub>2+</sub> Faradaic efficiency of 83.3% and a partial current density of -93.03 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> at -1.0 V (vs. RHE). This work provides a strategy for constructing multifunctional interfaces via dopant-guided structural evolution and electronic field engineering, offering new insights into high-efficiency CO<sub>2</sub> electroreduction.

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Publication Details

Journal
Small Methods
Published
2025-10-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202501502
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Type
article
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article

Dual Locking of Cu + /Cu 0 Interface and Vacancy Defects via Al‐Doping for Efficient Electroreduction of CO 2 to C 2+ Products

Yuzhou Wang, Chunhao Jiang, Qianqian Zhao, Yuhui Chen et al.
Small Methods
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
article

Dual Locking of Cu + /Cu 0 Interface and Vacancy Defects via Al‐Doping for Efficient Electroreduction of CO 2 to C 2+ Products

Yuzhou Wang, Chunhao Jiang, Qianqian Zhao, Yuhui Chen, Wenqing Zhang, Yuping Wu, Shulin Zhao, Tao Guo, Xiaojing Liu
article en

Abstract

Multi-carbon (C<sub>2+</sub>) products from the electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) are highly desirable due to their energy density and commercial value. Cu-based catalysts are the only known materials capable of producing C<sub>2+</sub> products with appreciable efficiency. However, the low *CO intermediate coverage and sluggish C-C coupling kinetics hinder their selectivity. Herein, an Al-doped copper hydroxyfluoride (Al-CuOHF) catalyst that combines dynamic reconstruction with electronic modulation is reported. In/ex situ CO<sub>2</sub>RR characterization confirm that partial Al dissolution drives in situ reconstruction of porous Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu heterostructures with abundant oxygen vacancies (O<sub>v</sub>), while residual Al stabilizes Cu<sup>+</sup> species and F-O<sub>v</sub> Lewis acid-base pairs. In situ Raman spectroscopy directly evidences enhanced *CO adsorption on restructured surfaces. These synergistic effects facilitate CO<sub>2</sub> activation, elevate *CO coverage, and reduce the energy barrier for C-C coupling. Consequently, Al-CuOHF delivers a remarkable C<sub>2+</sub> Faradaic efficiency of 83.3% and a partial current density of -93.03 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> at -1.0 V (vs. RHE). This work provides a strategy for constructing multifunctional interfaces via dopant-guided structural evolution and electronic field engineering, offering new insights into high-efficiency CO<sub>2</sub> electroreduction.

Small MethodsVol. 9(11)
Nanjing Tech University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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