Revealing the CO Coverage-Driven C−C Coupling Mechanism for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction on Cu2O Nanocubes via Operando Raman Spectroscopy

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is an attractive route to close the carbon cycle and potentially turn CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the highly selective generation of multicarbon products remains a challenge, suffering from poor mechanistic understanding. Herein...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Zhan, Chao, Dattila, Federico, Rettenmaier, Clara, Bergmann, Arno, Kühl, Stefanie, García-Muelas, Rodrigo, López, Núria, Roldan Cuenya, Beatriz
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2072/450553
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/2072/450553
https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.1c01478
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:54
Descripción
Sumario:Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is an attractive route to close the carbon cycle and potentially turn CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, the highly selective generation of multicarbon products remains a challenge, suffering from poor mechanistic understanding. Herein, we used operando Raman spectroscopy to track the potential-dependent reduction of Cu2O nanocubes and the surface coverage of reaction intermediates. In particular, we discovered that the potential-dependent intensity ratio of the Cu–CO stretching band to the CO rotation band follows a volcano trend similar to the CO2RR Faradaic efficiency for multicarbon products. By combining operando spectroscopic insights with Density Functional Theory, we proved that this ratio is determined by the CO coverage and that a direct correlation exists between the potential-dependent CO coverage, the preferred C–C coupling configuration, and the selectivity to C2+ products. Thus, operando Raman spectroscopy can serve as an effective method to quantify the coverage of surface intermediates during an electrocatalytic reaction.