Electroreduction of carbon monoxide over a copper nanocube catalyst: Surface structure and pH dependence on selectivity
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States). SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis
- Opus 12 Incorporated, Berkeley CA (United States)
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States). SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis; AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm Univ., Stockholm (Sweden), Dept. of Physics
The activity and selectivity for CO2/CO reduction over copper electrodes is strongly dependent on the local surface structure of the catalyst and the pH of the electrolyte. Here we investigate a unique, copper nanocube surface (CuCube) as a CO reduction electrode under neutral and basic pH, using online electrochemical mass spectroscopy (OLEMS) to determine the onset potentials and relative intensities of methane and ethylene production. To relate the unique selectivity to the surface structure, the CuCube surface reactivity is compared to polycrystalline copper and three single crystals under the same reaction conditions. Here, we find that the high selectivity for ethylene over the CuCube surface is most comparable to the Cu(100) surface, which has the cubic unit cell. However, the suppression of methane production over CuCube is unique to that particular surface. Basic pH is also shown to enhance ethylene selectivity on all surfaces, again with the CuCube surface being unique.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FA9550-10-1-0572, AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 1311816
- Journal Information:
- ChemCatChem, Vol. 8, Issue 6; ISSN 1867-3880
- Publisher:
- ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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