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Real‐time Monitoring Reveals Dissolution/Redeposition Mechanism in Copper Nanocatalysts during the Initial Stages of the CO 2 Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Vavra Jan,
Shen TzuHsien,
Stoian Dragos,
Tileli Vasiliki,
Buonsanti Raffaella
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202011137
Subject(s) - nanomaterial based catalyst , dissolution , electrocatalyst , catalysis , electrochemistry , copper , chemical engineering , coalescence (physics) , materials science , x ray absorption spectroscopy , chemistry , absorption spectroscopy , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , electrode , metallurgy , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , astrobiology , engineering
Size, morphology, and surface sites of electrocatalysts have a major impact on their performance. Understanding how, when, and why these parameters change under operating conditions is of importance for designing stable, active, and selective catalysts. Herein, we study the reconstruction of a Cu‐based nanocatalysts during the startup phase of the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction by combining results from electrochemical in situ transmission electron microscopy with operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. We reveal that dissolution followed by redeposition, rather than coalescence, is the mechanism responsible for the size increase and morphology change of the electrocatalyst. Furthermore, we point out the key role played by the formation of copper oxides in the process. Understanding of the underlying processes opens a pathway to rational design of Cu electro (re)deposited catalysts and to stability improvement for catalysts fabricated by other methods.