Reconstructing Cu Nanoparticle Supported on Vertical Graphene Surfaces via Electrochemical Treatment to Tune the Selectivity of CO2Reduction toward Valuable Products

Zhipeng Ma, Constantine Tsounis, Cui Ying Toe, Priyank V. Kumar, Bijil Subhash, Shibo Xi, Hui Ying Yang, Shujie Zhou, Zeheng Lin, Kuang Hsu Wu, Roong Jien Wong, Lars Thomsen, Nicholas M. Bedford, Xunyu Lu, Yun Hau Ng, Zhaojun Han, Rose Amal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reconstructing a catalyst with tunable properties is essential for achieving selective electrochemical CO2reduction reaction (CO2RR). Here, a reduction-oxidation-reduction (ROR) electrochemical treatment is devised to advisedly reconstruct copper nanoparticles on vertical graphene. Undercoordinated sites and oxygen vacancies constructed on the Cu active sites during the ROR treatment enhance the CO2RR activity. Moreover, by varying the oxidation potential while maintaining the reduction potential during the ROR treatment, CO2RR selectivity can be tuned between *COOH- and *OCHO-derived products. Specifically, rich grain boundaries are formed on the ROR catalyst with a high oxidation potential (+1.2 VRHE), favoring the *COOH/*OCCO adsorption and leading C-C coupling to *COOH-derived products, while the catalyst undergoing ROR at a low oxidation potential (+0.8 VRHE) lacks grain boundaries, resulting in highly selective formate (*OCHO-derived) production. Our findings are evidenced by combined in situ and ex situ characterizations and theoretical calculations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4792-4805
Number of pages14
JournalACS Catalysis
Volume12
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 6 2022

Bibliographical note

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© 2022 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Cu nanoparticles
  • electrochemical treatment
  • selective CO2RR
  • surface reconstruction
  • vertical graphene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry

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