In situ probing the dynamic reconstruction of copper–zinc electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. Issue 25 (17th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yen-Po; Tung, Ching-Wei; Chen, Tai-Lung; Hsu, Chia-Shuo; Liao, Mei-Yi; Chen, Hsiao-Chien; Chen, Hao Ming
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 14:Issue 25(2022)
• Page Start: 8944
• Page End: 8950
• Publication Date: 2022-06-17
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d2nr01478e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : The result of probing the dynamic structure of co-sputtered CuO and ZnO electrocatalyst suggests the reversing Ostwald ripening of Cu structure is triggered during CO2 RR and has a key impact on its methane selectivity. Abstract : Unravelling the dynamic characterization of electrocatalysts during the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2 RR) is a critical factor to improve the production efficiency and selectivity, since most pre-electrocatalysts undergo structural reconstruction and surface rearrangement under working conditions. Herein, a series of pre-electrocatalysts including CuO, ZnO and two different ratios of CuO/ZnO were systematically designed by a sputtering process to clarify the correlation of the dynamic characterization of Cu sites in the presence of Zn/ZnO and the product profile. The evidence provided by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicated that appropriate Zn/ZnO levels could induce a variation in the coordination number of Cu sites via reversing Ostwald ripening. Specifically, the recrystallized Cu site with a lower coordination number exhibited a preferential production of methane (CH4 ). More importantly, our findings provide a promising approach for the efficient production of CH4 by in situ reconstructing Cu-based binary electrocatalysts.