Issue 44, 2023

A covalency-aided electrochemical mechanism for CO2 reduction: the synergistic effect of copper and boron dual active sites drives the formation of a high-efficiency ethanol product

Abstract

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion into high-value multi-carbon products is of great significance for CO2 utilization, but the chemical inertness, low yields, and poor product selectivity hinder the application prospects of the electrocatalytic conversion methods. In this work, a covalency-aided electrochemical mechanism for CO2 reduction is proposed for the first time by embedding the nonmetallic element boron (B) on copper surfaces, in which p-block dopants have a significant impact on modifying the adsorbent intermediates and improving the catalytic activity. Herein, B atoms not only provide empty and occupied orbitals to adsorb and activate CO, but also afford a large amount of charge to stabilize the C2 intermediates. In addition, B atoms can also adjust the oxidation state of nearby copper (namely, Cu+), and the synergistic Cu+ and B dual active sites act as O* adsorption and C* adsorption sites, respectively, leading to strong adsorption and activation of CO2. First-principles calculations reveal that CO2 can be reduced into C2H5OH with an ultralow potential of −0.26 V. Overall, this study provides new insights into CO2 reduction, which offers a promising way for achieving an efficient ethanol product.

Graphical abstract: A covalency-aided electrochemical mechanism for CO2 reduction: the synergistic effect of copper and boron dual active sites drives the formation of a high-efficiency ethanol product

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
26 Aug 2023
Accepted
11 Oct 2023
First published
18 Oct 2023

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 17776-17784

A covalency-aided electrochemical mechanism for CO2 reduction: the synergistic effect of copper and boron dual active sites drives the formation of a high-efficiency ethanol product

S. Wang, L. Wang, X. Zhu, Y. Zhuang, X. Niu and Q. Zhao, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 17776 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR04288J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements