Selectivity regulation of CO2 electroreduction on asymmetric AuAgCu tandem heterostructures

Rational design and synthesis of multimetallic nanostructures (NSs) are fundamentally important for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Herein, a multi-step seed-mediated growth method is applied to synthesize asymmetric AuAgCu heterostructures using Au nanobipyramids as nucleation seeds, in which their composition and structures are well controlled. We find that the selectivity of C-2 products for CO2RR could be effectively regulated by tandem catalysis and electronic effect over trimetallic AuAgCu heterostructures. Particularly, the Faraday efficiency toward ethanol could reach up to 37.5% at a potential of -0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode over asymmetric Au1Ag1Cu5 heterostructures with segregated domains of three constituent metals. This work provides an efficient strategy for the synthesis of multicomponent architectures to boost their promising application in CO2RR.

Automated summary

In this study, asymmetric AuAgCu nanostructures with controlled composition and structure were synthesized using a multi-step seed-mediated growth method. It was found that these nanostructures have the ability to regulate the selectivity of CO2RR products. Ethanol Faraday efficiency reached a high level on specific nanostructures. This work provides an effective synthesis strategy for the application of CO2RR.