CeO2-modified Cu electrode for efficient CO2 electroreduction to multi-carbon products

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to value-added fuels offers a promising method to solve increasingly serious environmental problems and alleviate energy crisis. Herein, we report a facile method by coating Cu electrode with CeO2 nanoparticles to largely enhance the C2+ products selectivity during CO2 electroreduction. The Faradaic efficiency of C2+ products for optimal CeO2-coated Cu electrode reached a high value of 61 % at -1.05 V vs RHE, and exhibited good stability for over 9 h of CO2 electrolysis. The CeO2 nanoparticles were found to induce oxidative corrosion of the Cu foil, leading to a CuOx layer in contact with the CeO2 nanoparticles. The interface between CeO2 nanoparticles and oxide-derived Cu might be attributed to the enhanced catalytic activity for C2+ products by promoting the C-C coupling process.

Automated summary

Coating Cu electrode with CeO2 nanoparticles can greatly enhance the selectivity of C2+ products during CO2 electroreduction, reaching a high Faradaic efficiency of 61%. CeO2 nanoparticles induce oxidative corrosion of Cu foil, leading to a CuOx layer that enhances catalytic activity for C-C coupling process.