Copper Doping Boosts Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters

Unraveling the atomistic synergistic effects of nanoalloys on the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (eCO(2)RR), especially in the presence of copper, is of paramount importance. However, this endeavor encounters significant challenges due to the lack of the crystallographically determined atomic-level structure of appropriate monometallic and bimetallic analogues. Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis and structure characterization of a AuCu nanoalloy cluster catalyst, [Au15Cu4(DPPM)(6)Cl-4(C equivalent to CR)(1)](2+) (denoted as Au15Cu4). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that Au15Cu4 comprises two interpenetrating incomplete, centered icosahedra (Au9Cu2 and Au8Cu3) and is protected by six DPPM, four halide, and one alkynyl ligand. The Au15Cu4 cluster and its closest monometal structural analogue, [Au-18(DPPM)(6)Br-4](2+) (denoted as Au-18), as model systems, enable the elucidation of the atomistic synergistic effects of Au and Cu on eCO(2)RR. The results reveal that Au15Cu4 is an excellent eCO(2)RR catalyst in a gas diffusion electrode-based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cell, exhibiting a high CO Faradaic efficiency (FECO) of >90%, and this efficiency is substantially higher than that of the undoped Au-18 (FECO: 60% at -3.75 V). Au15Cu4 exhibits an industrial-level CO partial current density of up to -413 mA/cm(2) at -3.75 V with the gas CO2-fed MEA, which is 2-fold higher than that of Au-18. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the synergistic effects are induced by Cu doping, where the exposed pair of AuCu dual sites was suggested for launching the eCO(2)RR process. Besides, DFT simulations reveal that these special dual sites synergistically coordinate a moderate shift in the d-state, thus enhancing its overall catalytic performance.

Automated summary

Studying the atomistic synergistic effects of nanoalloys on the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction is crucial, but determining the atomic-level structure of appropriate analogues is challenging. In this study, a one-pot synthesis and structure characterization of an AuCu nanoalloy cluster catalyst were reported, which provided insights into the atomistic synergistic effects of Au and Cu on the reaction. The results showed that the AuCu nanoalloy exhibited excellent catalytic performance in the CO2 reduction reaction, with higher CO Faradaic efficiency and CO partial current density compared to the closest monometal analogue.