Hierarchical TandemCatalysis Promotes CO Spilloverand Trapping for Efficient CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction to C<sub>2+</sub> Products

The electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) to produce multicarbon (C<sub>2+</sub>) hydrocarbons or oxygenate compounds is a promising route to obtain a renewable fuel or valuable chemicals; however, producing C<sub>2+</sub> at high current densities is still a challenge. Herein, we design a hierarchically structured tandem catalysis electrode for greatly improved catalytic activity and selectivity for C<sub>2+</sub> products. The tandem catalysis electrode is constructed of a sputtered Ag nanoparticle layer on a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and a layer of nitrogen-doped carbon (NC)-modified Cu nanowire arrays. The Cu nanowire arrays are <i>in situ</i> grown on PTFE by electrochemical oxidation of sputtered CuAl alloy, in which the chemical etching of metal Al induces the formation of a Cu nanowire array structure. Within hierarchical configuration, CO can be efficiently generated on an active Ag layer and then spillover and transfer to NC-modified Cu nanowire array layer, in which Cu/NC interfaces can enhance *CO trapping and adsorption. During the CO<sub>2</sub>RR, the optimized tandem catalysis electrode achieves superior Faradaic efficiencies of 53.5% and 87.5% for ethylene (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) and C<sub>2+</sub> products at the current density of 519.0 mA cm<sup>–2</sup>, respectively, with a high C<sub>2+</sub>/C<sub>1</sub> ratio of 10.42 and long-term stability up to 50 h. <i>In situ</i> Raman and attenuated total reflection-surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) confirm that the Ag–Cu–NC tandem catalysis system significantly enhances the linear adsorption of *CO intermediates and the dissociation of H<sub>2</sub>O, improves the C–C coupling capability, and stabilizes the key intermediate *OCCOH to produce C<sub>2+</sub> products.

Publication Details

Journal
Figshare
Published
2025-02-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c00696.s001
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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article
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article

Hierarchical TandemCatalysis Promotes CO Spilloverand Trapping for Efficient CO2 Reduction to C2+ Products

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CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
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Hierarchical TandemCatalysis Promotes CO Spilloverand Trapping for Efficient CO2 Reduction to C2+ Products

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Abstract

The electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) to produce multicarbon (C<sub>2+</sub>) hydrocarbons or oxygenate compounds is a promising route to obtain a renewable fuel or valuable chemicals; however, producing C<sub>2+</sub> at high current densities is still a challenge. Herein, we design a hierarchically structured tandem catalysis electrode for greatly improved catalytic activity and selectivity for C<sub>2+</sub> products. The tandem catalysis electrode is constructed of a sputtered Ag nanoparticle layer on a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and a layer of nitrogen-doped carbon (NC)-modified Cu nanowire arrays. The Cu nanowire arrays are <i>in situ</i> grown on PTFE by electrochemical oxidation of sputtered CuAl alloy, in which the chemical etching of metal Al induces the formation of a Cu nanowire array structure. Within hierarchical configuration, CO can be efficiently generated on an active Ag layer and then spillover and transfer to NC-modified Cu nanowire array layer, in which Cu/NC interfaces can enhance *CO trapping and adsorption. During the CO<sub>2</sub>RR, the optimized tandem catalysis electrode achieves superior Faradaic efficiencies of 53.5% and 87.5% for ethylene (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) and C<sub>2+</sub> products at the current density of 519.0 mA cm<sup>–2</sup>, respectively, with a high C<sub>2+</sub>/C<sub>1</sub> ratio of 10.42 and long-term stability up to 50 h. <i>In situ</i> Raman and attenuated total reflection-surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) confirm that the Ag–Cu–NC tandem catalysis system significantly enhances the linear adsorption of *CO intermediates and the dissociation of H<sub>2</sub>O, improves the C–C coupling capability, and stabilizes the key intermediate *OCCOH to produce C<sub>2+</sub> products.

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