Altering preferential product selectivity in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction over fluorine-modified CuIn bimetallic materials

• Published in: Journal of catalysis Vol. 439; p. 115768
• Main Authors: Gu, Lin, Dutta Chowdhury, Abhishek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Bimetallic catalysts; CO2 reduction; Electrocatalysis; Selectivity control; Electrocatalysis; Bimetallic catalysts; CO2 reduction; Selectivity control
• ISSN: 0021-9517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2024.115768

[Display omitted] •We synthesized a series of F-doped CuIn bimetallic catalysts for the eCO2R process.•Preferential product selectivity depends on In/Cu, F doping, and reactor type.•The 0.06InCuOxF material led to optimal performance. Integrating carbon dioxide (CO2)-derived renewable technologies into the petrochemical industry presents a promising avenue for carbon neutrality. The renewable-energy-powered electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) process, particularly over Cu-based electrocatalysts, is a valuable asset for our decarbonization efforts to avoid climate consequences. Intending to enhance process efficiency, this work is a distinctive case study emphasizing the need to develop electrocatalysts in conjunction with adjusting operating conditions. A representative case is presented using fluorine-modified CuIn bimetallic electrocatalysts with tunable In/Cu ratios, demonstrating how to alter selectivity preferences based on reactor configuration: Our optimized catalyst system led to the highest faradaic efficiency (FE) for C2+ products of 68 % and the highest C1 FE of 80 % using gas diffusion electrodes (GDE)- and H-cell-type based electrolyzer, respectively. Moreover, the controllable In/Cu ratio and the degree of fluoride doping played a pivotal role in governing the physicochemical properties of the bimetallic electrocatalysts and their eCO2R performance. Diverse characterization tools offered systematic insights into the relationships between catalyst structure and properties, reactor configuration, electrolyte, and performance, aiming to enhance the Technology Readiness Level of the eCO2R process.