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Tuning Cu/Cu 2 O Interfaces for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol in Aqueous Solutions
Author(s) -
Chang Xiaoxia,
Wang Tuo,
Zhao ZhiJian,
Yang Piaoping,
Greeley Jeffrey,
Mu Rentao,
Zhang Gong,
Gong Zhongmiao,
Luo Zhibin,
Chen Jun,
Cui Yi,
Ozin Geoffrey A.,
Gong Jinlong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201805256
Subject(s) - artificial photosynthesis , aqueous solution , faraday efficiency , electrochemistry , carbon dioxide , methanol , product distribution , chemistry , redox , photosynthesis , solar fuel , electrolyte , electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide , photocathode , chemical engineering , cathode , inorganic chemistry , catalysis , electrode , carbon monoxide , photocatalysis , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , electron , engineering
Artificial photosynthesis can be used to store solar energy and reduce CO 2 into fuels to potentially alleviate global warming and the energy crisis. Compared to the generation of gaseous products, it remains a great challenge to tune the product distribution of artificial photosynthesis to liquid fuels, such as CH 3 OH, which are suitable for storage and transport. Herein, we describe the introduction of metallic Cu nanoparticles (NPs) on Cu 2 O films to change the product distribution from gaseous products on bare Cu 2 O to predominantly CH 3 OH by CO 2 reduction in aqueous solutions. The specifically designed Cu/Cu 2 O interfaces balance the binding strengths of H* and CO* intermediates, which play critical roles in CH 3 OH production. With a TiO 2 model photoanode to construct a photoelectrochemical cell, a Cu/Cu 2 O dark cathode exhibited a Faradaic efficiency of up to 53.6 % for CH 3 OH production. This work demonstrates the feasibility and mechanism of interface engineering to enhance the CH 3 OH production from CO 2 reduction in aqueous electrolytes.