Operando Investigation of Ag-Decorated Cu2O Nanocube Catalysts with Enhanced CO2 Electroreduction toward Liquid Products

Direct conversion of carbon dioxide into multicarbon liquid fuels by the CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction (CO2RR) can contribute to the decarbonization of the global economy. Here, well-defined Cu2O nanocubes (NCs, 35 nm) uniformly covered with Ag nanoparticles (5 nm) were synthesized. When compared to bare Cu2O NCs, the catalyst with 5 at % Ag on Cu2O NCs displayed a two-fold increase in the Faradaic efficiency for C2+ liquid products (30 % at -1.0 V-RHE), including ethanol, 1-propanol, and acetaldehyde, while formate and hydrogen were suppressed. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed the partial reduction of Cu2O during CO2RR, accompanied by a reaction-driven redispersion of Ag on the CuOx NCs. Data from operando surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy further uncovered significant variations in the CO binding to Cu, which were assigned to Ag-Cu sites formed during CO2RR that appear crucial for the C-C coupling and the enhanced yield of liquid products.

Automated summary

Covering Cu2O nanocubes with Ag nanoparticles can enhance the Faradaic efficiency of CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction for C2+ liquid products. Partial reduction of Cu2O and reaction-driven redispersion of Ag on CuOx were observed during CO2RR, indicating the importance of Ag-Cu sites for C-C coupling and enhanced liquid product yield.