Low Overpotential Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Ethanol Enabled by Cu/CuxO Nanoparticles Embedded in Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Cuboids

The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals is a promising approach for addressing environmental and energy supply problems. In this study, electrochemical CO2 catalysis to ethanol is achieved using incorporated Cu/CuxO nanoparticles into nitrogenous porous carbon cuboids. Pyrol...

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Published inNanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 230
Main Authors Alkoshab, Monther Q., Thomou, Eleni, Abdulazeez, Ismail, Suliman, Munzir H., Spyrou, Konstantinos, Iali, Wissam, Alhooshani, Khalid, Baroud, Turki N.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2023
MDPI
Subjects
Alcohol
Carbon black
Carbon dioxide
Catalysis
Cations
Charge transfer
Chemical reduction
CO2
Coordination compounds
Cu nanoparticles
Electrocatalysts
Electrochemical analysis
electrochemical reduction
Electrochemistry
Electrodes
Electrolytes
Ethanol
Graphene
Hydrocarbons
Intermediates
low overpotential
Nanoparticles
Nitrogen
Porosity
porous carbon support
Pyrolysis
Quantum dots
Spectrum analysis
United States > US
Netherlands
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Summary:The electrochemical conversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals is a promising approach for addressing environmental and energy supply problems. In this study, electrochemical CO2 catalysis to ethanol is achieved using incorporated Cu/CuxO nanoparticles into nitrogenous porous carbon cuboids. Pyrolysis of the coordinated Cu cations with nitrogen heterocycles allowed Cu nanoparticles to detach from the coordination complex but remain dispersed throughout the porous carbon cuboids. The heterogeneous composite Cu/CuxO-PCC-0h electrocatalyst reduced CO2 to ethanol at low overpotential in 0.5 M KHCO3, exhibiting maximum ethanol faradaic efficiency of 50% at −0.5 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. Such electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the synergy between pyridinic nitrogen species, Cu/CuxO nanoparticles, and porous carbon morphology, together providing efficient CO2 diffusion, activation, and intermediates stabilization. This was supported by the notably high electrochemically active surface area, rich porosity, and efficient charge transfer properties.
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ISSN:2079-4991
2079-4991
DOI:10.3390/nano13020230