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In Situ Topotactic Transformation of an Interstitial Alloy for CO Electroreduction
Author(s) -
Zhao Changming,
Luo Gan,
Liu Xiaokang,
Zhang Wei,
Li Zhijun,
Xu Qian,
Zhang Qinghua,
Wang Huijuan,
Li Deming,
Zhou Fangyao,
Qu Yunteng,
Han Xiao,
Zhu Zezhou,
Wu Geng,
Wang Jing,
Zhu Junfa,
Yao Tao,
Li Yafei,
Bouwmeester Henny J.M.,
Wu Yuen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202002382
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , materials science , faraday efficiency , electrochemistry , electrolysis , catalysis , electrolyte , chemical engineering , alloy , copper , cathode , inorganic chemistry , electrode , metallurgy , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Electrochemical reduction of CO to value‐added products holds promise for storage of energy from renewable sources. Copper can convert CO into multi‐carbon (C 2+ ) products during CO electroreduction. However, developing a Cu electrocatalyst with a high selectivity for CO reduction and desirable production rates for C 2+ products remains challenging. Herein, highly lattice‐disordered Cu 3 N with abundant twin structures as a precursor electrocatalyst is examined for CO reduction. Through in situ activation during the CO reduction reaction (CORR) and concomitant release of nitrogen, the obtained metallic Cu° catalyst particles inherit the lattice dislocations present in the parent Cu 3 N lattice. The de‐nitrified catalyst delivers an unprecedented C 2+ Faradaic efficiency of over 90% at a current density of 727 mA cm −2 in a flow cell system. Using a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer with a solid‐state electrolyte (SSE), a 17.4 vol% ethylene stream and liquid streams with concentration of 1.45 m and 230 × 10 −3 m C 2+ products at the outlet of the cathode and SSE‐containment layer are obtained.