Evidence for product-specific active sites on oxide-derived Cu catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction

Lum, Yanwei; Ager, Joel W.

doi:10.1038/s41929-018-0201-7

Evidence for product-specific active sites on oxide-derived Cu catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction

Journal Article · Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Nature Catalysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0201-7· OSTI ID:1603501

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Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

Carbon dioxide electroreduction in aqueous media using Cu catalysts can generate many different C₂ and C₃ products, which leads to the question whether all products are generated from the same types of active sites or if product-specific active sites are responsible for certain products. Here, by reducing mixtures of ¹³CO and ¹²CO₂, we show that oxide-derived Cu catalysts have three different types of active sites for C–C coupled products, one that produces ethanol and acetate, another that produces ethylene and yet another that produces 1-propanol. In contrast, we do not find evidence of product-specific sites on polycrystalline Cu and oriented (100) and (111) Cu surfaces. Analysis of the isotopic composition of the products leads to the prediction that the adsorption energy of *COOH (the product of the first step of CO₂ reduction) may be a descriptor for the product selectivity of a given active site. Finally, these new insights should enable highly selective catalysts to be developed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; SC0004993

OSTI ID:: 1603501

Journal Information:: Nature Catalysis, Journal Name: Nature Catalysis Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN 2520-1158

Publisher:: Springer NatureCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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