Unveiling the Synergistic Effect between Graphitic Carbon Nitride and Cu2O toward CO2 Electroreduction to C2H4. Issue 3 (18th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Jiguang; Guo, Yuting; Shang, Bin; Fan, Tingting; Lian, Xinyi; Huang, Pingping; Dong, Yunyun; Chen, Zhou; Yi, Xiaodong
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 14:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 929
• Page End: 937
• Publication Date: 2020-12-18
• Subjects: CO2 adsorption -- Cuprous oxide -- Ethylene -- Graphitic carbon nitride -- Synergistic catalytic effect; Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202002427
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

Abstract: Electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 RR) to ethylene is one of the most promising strategies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and simultaneously produce high value‐added chemicals. However, the lack of catalysts with excellent activity and stability limits the large‐scale application of this technology. In this work, a graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3 N4 )‐supported Cu2 O composite was fabricated, which exhibited a 32.2 % faradaic efficiency of C2 H4 with a partial current density of −4.3 mA cm −2 at −1.1 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 m KHCO3 electrolyte. The introduction of g‐C3 N4 support not only enhanced the uniform dispersion of Cu2 O nanocubes, but also stabilized the important *CO intermediates. Moreover, the g‐C3 N4 itself had a good activity of reducing CO2 to form *CO, which enriched the key intermediates of C−C coupling around cuprous oxide. The findings highlight the importance of the g‐C3 N4 support, a unique two‐dimensional material, including not only the strong CO2 adsorption and activation capacity but also its synergistic effect with the cuprous oxide in CO2 RR selectivity. Abstract : CO2 to ethylene : The synthesized Cu2 O/CN composite can promote C−C coupling via the synergistic effect between carbon nitride support and cuprous oxide. The carbon nitride support creates a key intermediates‐rich environment around Cu2 O, thus enhancing the selectivity and partial current density of electrochemical CO2 reduction to ethylene.