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3D Heterostructured Copper Electrode for Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Alcohols at Low Overpotentials
Author(s) -
Daiyan Rahman,
Saputera Wibawa Hendra,
Zhang Qingran,
Lovell Emma,
Lim Sean,
Ng Yun Hau,
Lu Xunyu,
Amal Rose
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced sustainable systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.499
H-Index - 24
ISSN - 2366-7486
DOI - 10.1002/adsu.201800064
Subject(s) - faraday efficiency , electrochemistry , materials science , copper , electrode , catalysis , reversible hydrogen electrode , electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , selectivity , reference electrode , chemistry , carbon monoxide , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
Active and cost‐effective catalyst materials are required for electrochemical CO 2 reduction reactions (CO 2 RR) which, to date, are proving elusive. Here, the direct electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to liquid products with a high overall Faradaic efficiency (FE) by utilizing a unique 3D, heterostructured copper electrode (referred as Cu sandwich) that is obtained via a simple two‐step treatment of commercially available copper foam is reported. The designed catalyst achieves an FE toward liquid products of >50% at an applied potential as low as −0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. The improved selectivity of the heterostructured Cu sandwich electrode at low overpotentials is attributed to the greater exposure of engineered Cu + /Cu 2+ interfaces (present on composite nanowires) and higher oxygen vacancy defects. Moreover, the rationally designed heterostructures prevent the Cu 2 O species from being reduced during CO 2 RR enabling the catalyst to demonstrate enhanced CO 2 RR activity with prolonged stability.