Cu2O/CuS Nanocomposites Show Excellent Selectivity and Stability for Formate Generation via Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Wang, Shanwen; Kou, Tianyi; Varley, Joel B.; Akhade, Sneha A.; Weitzner, Stephen E.; Baker, Sarah E.; Duoss, Eric B.; Li, Yat

doi:10.1021/acsmaterialslett.0c00520

Cu₂O/CuS Nanocomposites Show Excellent Selectivity and Stability for Formate Generation via Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Journal Article · Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 2020 · ACS Materials Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.0c00520· OSTI ID:2318791

Wang, Shanwen ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[2]; Baker, Sarah E. ^[2]; Duoss, Eric B. ^[2]; ^[1]

Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Formate is an important value-added chemical that can be produced via electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions (CO₂RR). Cu₂O-based catalysts have previously demonstrated decent activity for formate generation; however, they often suffer from poor electrochemical stability under reductive conditions. Here, in this paper, we report a new Cu₂O/CuS composite catalyst that simultaneously achieves an excellent faradaic efficiency of 67.6% and a large partial current density of 15.3 mA/cm² at –0.9 V vs RHE for formate. Importantly, it maintains an average faradaic efficiency of 62.9% for at least 30 h at the same potential. The catalytic selectivity and stability for formate production outperform other Cu, CuS, and Cu₂O catalysts.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 2318791

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-813717; 1021794

Journal Information:: ACS Materials Letters, Journal Name: ACS Materials Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 3; ISSN 2639-4979

Publisher:: ACS PublicationsCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cu2O/CuS Nanocomposites Show Excellent Selectivity and Stability for Formate Generation via Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

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