Solid Solution In Situ‐Reconstructed Mg‐Cu <sub>2</sub> O/Cu Heterointerface for CO <sub>2</sub> Reduction to C <sub>2+</sub> Alcohols in Neutral and Acidic Media

Electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction presents a sustainable route for producing value-added liquid C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols. Using neutral and acidic media enables high CO<sub>2</sub> utilization, but suffers low C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols selectivity and production rate, due to high energy barrier of C─C coupling and competing C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> pathway on conventional Cu catalysts. Herein, we report porous Mg-stabilized Cu<sub>2</sub>O/metallic Cu (Mg-Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu) heterointerface, in situ reconstructed from block copolymer-derived mesoporous MgCuO solid solution under operating CO<sub>2</sub> reduction conditions, that realizes extraordinary neutral and acidic CO<sub>2</sub>-to-C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols performance. In situ spectroscopic and computational investigations disclose that Mg-Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu heterointerface facilitates *CO hydrogenation and triggers energy-favorable asymmetric *CO─CHO coupling, distinctive to energy-intensive symmetric *CO─CO dimerization catalyzed by bare CuO-derived Cu surface. More importantly, the heterostructure modulates bonding strength of key C<sub>2+</sub> intermediate with enhanced O─C yet weakened Cu─O bonds, switching selectivity from C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> on Cu to C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols on Mg-Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu. Along with porous architecture affording abundant accessible sites, we achieve remarkable Faradaic efficiencies of 70.4% at an industrial current density of 448.7 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> in neutral electrolyte and 61.4% at 316.1 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> in acid for C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols, placing among the highest levels reported hitherto. This work provides a general catalyst design framework for steering reaction pathways in practical CO<sub>2</sub> electrolysis.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Published
2026-02-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.8293761
Primary Topic
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Solid Solution In Situ‐Reconstructed Mg‐Cu 2 O/Cu Heterointerface for CO 2 Reduction to C 2+ Alcohols in Neutral and Acidic Media

Haoyang Li, Kai‐Jie Chen, Fuping Pan, Jian Cai et al.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
article

Solid Solution In Situ‐Reconstructed Mg‐Cu 2 O/Cu Heterointerface for CO 2 Reduction to C 2+ Alcohols in Neutral and Acidic Media

Haoyang Li, Kai‐Jie Chen, Fuping Pan, Jian Cai, Ting Wang
article en

Abstract

Electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction presents a sustainable route for producing value-added liquid C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols. Using neutral and acidic media enables high CO<sub>2</sub> utilization, but suffers low C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols selectivity and production rate, due to high energy barrier of C─C coupling and competing C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> pathway on conventional Cu catalysts. Herein, we report porous Mg-stabilized Cu<sub>2</sub>O/metallic Cu (Mg-Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu) heterointerface, in situ reconstructed from block copolymer-derived mesoporous MgCuO solid solution under operating CO<sub>2</sub> reduction conditions, that realizes extraordinary neutral and acidic CO<sub>2</sub>-to-C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols performance. In situ spectroscopic and computational investigations disclose that Mg-Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu heterointerface facilitates *CO hydrogenation and triggers energy-favorable asymmetric *CO─CHO coupling, distinctive to energy-intensive symmetric *CO─CO dimerization catalyzed by bare CuO-derived Cu surface. More importantly, the heterostructure modulates bonding strength of key C<sub>2+</sub> intermediate with enhanced O─C yet weakened Cu─O bonds, switching selectivity from C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> on Cu to C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols on Mg-Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu. Along with porous architecture affording abundant accessible sites, we achieve remarkable Faradaic efficiencies of 70.4% at an industrial current density of 448.7 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> in neutral electrolyte and 61.4% at 316.1 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> in acid for C<sub>2+</sub> alcohols, placing among the highest levels reported hitherto. This work provides a general catalyst design framework for steering reaction pathways in practical CO<sub>2</sub> electrolysis.

Angewandte Chemie International EditionVol. 65(11)
Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN)
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 66%
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Solid Solution In Situ‐Reconstructed Mg‐Cu <sub>2</sub> O/Cu Heterointerface for CO <sub>2</sub> Reduction to C <sub>2+</sub> Alcohols in Neutral and Acidic Media — Haoyang Li, Kai‐Jie Chen, et al. · Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS