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Supramolecular Engineering to Improve Electrocatalytic CO 2 Reduction Activity of Cu 2 O
Author(s) -
Zhang Ya,
Zhang XiaoYu,
Chen Kai,
Sun WeiYin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202100431
Subject(s) - catalysis , electrochemistry , electrocatalyst , supramolecular chemistry , formate , faraday efficiency , adsorption , inorganic chemistry , reversible hydrogen electrode , chemistry , macromolecule , chemical engineering , nanocomposite , materials science , molecule , nanotechnology , electrode , organic chemistry , working electrode , biochemistry , engineering
Electrochemical conversion of CO 2 into value‐added fuels and feedstocks attracts worldwide attention to mitigate energy and environmental problems. However, pursuing highly efficient electrocatalyst is still a challenge. In this study, cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) modified by cucurbit[6]urils (Q[6]), a kind of rigid macromolecule, is found to act as an efficient supramolecular inorganic nanocomposite catalyst for the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to C 1 fuels. This catalyst affords a high total faradaic efficiency (FE CO+formate ) of 93.96 % at a potential of −0.7 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode and over 85 % from −0.6 to −0.9 V in 0.5 M KHCO 3 , which is higher than that of pure Cu 2 O (39.89 %). The enhancements in selectivity and activity for CO 2 RR could significantly benefit from the strong CO 2 adsorption capacity and hydrophobic nature of the cavity of Q[6], which simultaneously trap gaseous reactants near the catalyst to tune the local environment and limit the diffusion of water molecules. This study provides a strategy to adjust catalytic environments through supramolecular engineering.