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Operando insights into correlating CO coverage and Cu-Au alloying with the selectivity of Au NP-decorated Cu 2 O nanocubes during the electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction.
- Source :
-
EES catalysis [EES Catal] 2023 Oct 25; Vol. 2 (1), pp. 311-323. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Oct 25 (Print Publication: 2024). - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Electrochemical reduction of CO <subscript>2</subscript> (CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR) is an attractive technology to reintegrate the anthropogenic CO <subscript>2</subscript> back into the carbon cycle driven by a suitable catalyst. This study employs highly efficient multi-carbon (C <subscript>2+</subscript> ) producing Cu <subscript>2</subscript> O nanocubes (NCs) decorated with CO-selective Au nanoparticles (NPs) to investigate the correlation between a high CO surface concentration microenvironment and the catalytic performance. Structure, morphology and near-surface composition are studied via operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, operando high-energy X-ray diffraction as well as quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These operando studies show the continuous evolution of the local structure and chemical environment of our catalysts during reaction conditions. Along with its alloy formation, a CO-rich microenvironment as well as weakened average CO binding on the catalyst surface during CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR is detected. Linking these findings to the catalytic function, a complex compositional interplay between Au and Cu is revealed in which higher Au loadings primarily facilitate CO formation. Nonetheless, the strongest improvement in C <subscript>2+</subscript> formation appears for the lowest Au loadings, suggesting a beneficial role of the Au-Cu atomic interaction for the catalytic function in CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR. This study highlights the importance of site engineering and operando investigations to unveil the electrocatalyst's adaptations to the reaction conditions, which is a prerequisite to understand its catalytic behavior.<br />Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare.<br /> (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2753-801X
- Volume :
- 2
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- EES catalysis
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38222061
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ey00162h