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Reversible metal cluster formation on Nitrogen-doped carbon controlling electrocatalyst particle size with subnanometer accuracy.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2024 Jul 20; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 6111. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 20. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Copper and nitrogen co-doped carbon catalysts exhibit a remarkable behavior during the electrocatalytic CO <subscript>2</subscript> reduction (CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR), namely, the formation of metal nanoparticles from Cu single atoms, and their subsequent reversible redispersion. Here we show that the switchable nature of these species holds the key for the on-demand control over the distribution of CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR products, a lack of which has thus far hindered the wide-spread practical adoption of CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR. By intermitting pulses of a working cathodic potential with pulses of anodic potential, we were able to achieve a controlled fragmentation of the Cu particles and partial regeneration of single atom sites. By tuning the pulse durations, and by tracking the catalyst's evolution using operando quick X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the speciation of the catalyst can be steered toward single atom sites, ultrasmall metal clusters or large metal nanoparticles, each exhibiting unique CO <subscript>2</subscript> RR functionalities.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39030207
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50379-w