AUTHOR=Dong Wenfei , Fu Dewen , Zhang Zhifeng , Wu Zhiqiang , Zhao Hongjian , Liu Wangsuo 

TITLE=Efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethylene using cuprous oxide derivatives

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2024.1482168

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2024.1482168

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Copper-based materials play a vital role in the electrochemical transformation of CO<sub>2</sub> into C<sub>2</sub>/C<sub>2+</sub> compounds. In this study, cross-sectional octahedral Cu<sub>2</sub>O microcrystals were prepared <italic>in situ</italic> on carbon paper electrodes via electrochemical deposition. The morphology and integrity of the exposed crystal surface (111) were meticulously controlled by adjusting the deposition potential, time, and temperature. These cross-sectional octahedral Cu<sub>2</sub>O microcrystals exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for ethylene (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) production through CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. In a 0.1 M KHCO<sub>3</sub> electrolyte, the Faradaic efficiency for C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> reached 42.0% at a potential of −1.376 V vs. RHE. During continuous electrolysis over 10 h, the FE (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) remained stable around 40%. During electrolysis, the fully exposed (111) crystal faces of Cu<sub>2</sub>O microcrystals are reduced to Cu<sup>0</sup>, which enhances C-C coupling and could serve as the main active sites for catalyzing the conversion of CO<sub>2</sub> to C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>.</p>