Phys.org  February 16, 2023 Cu enables CO2-to-multicarbon product (C2+) conversion. However, the nature of the active sites under operating conditions remains elusive. A team of researchers in the US (UC Berkely, Cornell University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) has presented a comprehensive investigation of the structural dynamics during the life cycle of Cu nanocatalysts. A 7 nm Cu nanoparticle ensemble evolved into metallic Cu nanograins during electrolysis before complete oxidation to single-crystal Cu2O nanocubes following post-electrolysis air exposure. They confirmed the presence of metallic Cu nanograins under CO2 reduction conditions. Other tests suggested that metallic Cu, rich in nanograin boundaries, supports undercoordinated […]