Novel copper gas penetration electrode can efficiently reduce CO2 to multicarbon products

Phys.org  November 8, 2022 Although considerable progress has been made in CO2 electroreduction, sustained production of multicarbon compounds at high current density remains a challenge. Researchers in China reported a hierarchical micro/nanostructured Cu(100)-rich copper hollow fiber as a gas penetration electrode (GPE) that reduces CO2 to C2+ product with a faradaic efficiency of 62.8% and a current density of 2.3 A cm-2 in 0.5 M KHCO3 solution at −1.94 V (vs. RHE). Electrochemical results demonstrate that optimized mass transfer and enhanced three-phase interface reaction synergistically promote CO2 activation and reduction kinetics. Theoretical calculations suggested that the Cu(100) facet of Cu […]