Roles of copper(I) in water-promoted CO2 electrolysis to multi-carbon compounds

Xiaoyang He; Li Lin; Xiangying Li; Minzhi Zhu; Qinghong Zhang; Shunji Xie; Bingbao Mei; Fanfei Sun; Zheng Jiang; Jun Cheng; Ye Wang

doi:10.1038/s41467-024-54282-2

Nature Communications (Nov 2024)

Roles of copper(I) in water-promoted CO2 electrolysis to multi-carbon compounds

Xiaoyang He,
Li Lin,
Xiangying Li,
Minzhi Zhu,
Qinghong Zhang,
Shunji Xie,
Bingbao Mei,
Fanfei Sun,
Zheng Jiang,
Jun Cheng,
Ye Wang

Affiliations

Xiaoyang He: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Li Lin: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Xiangying Li: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Minzhi Zhu: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Qinghong Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Shunji Xie: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Bingbao Mei: Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Fanfei Sun: Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zheng Jiang: Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jun Cheng: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University
Ye Wang: State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54282-2
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is promising for practical applications of the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to multi-carbon (C2+) compounds. Water management is crucial in the MEA electrolyser without catholyte, but few studies have clarified whether the co-feeding water in cathode can enhance C2+ formation. Here, we report our discovery of pivotal roles of a suitable nanocomposite electrocatalyst with abundant Cu2O−Cu0 interfaces in accomplishing water-promoting effect on C2+ formation, achieving a current density of 1.0 A cm−2 and a 19% single-pass C2+ yield at 80% C2+ Faradaic efficiency in MEA. The operando characterizations confirm the co-existence of Cu+ with Cu0 during CO2RR at ampere-level current densities. Our studies reveal that Cu+ works for water activation and aids C‒C coupling by enhancing formations of adsorbed CO and CHO species. This work offers a strategy to boost CO2RR to C2+ compounds in industrial-relevant MEA by combining water management and electrocatalyst design.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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