Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2016, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (7): 1070-1075.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(16)62465-8

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Influence of transition metal modification of oxide-derived Cu electrodes in electroreduction of CO2

Li Liu, Na Tian, Long Huang, Yu-Hao Hong, Ai-Yun Xie, Feng-Yang Zhang, Chi Xiao, Zhi-You Zhou, Shi-Gang Sun   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China
  • Received:2016-04-15 Revised:2016-05-19 Online:2016-06-17 Published:2016-06-17
  • Contact: Na Tian, Shi-Gang Sun
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21573183, 21222310, 21361140374, 21321062) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (20720160045).

Abstract:

The modification of oxide-derived Cu electrode with Ni, Zn, and Au was examined to improve the catalytic activity of CO2 electroreduction. The experimental results showed that Ni modification increased the Faraday efficiency of the formation of formic acid and n-propanol. The Faraday efficiency relating to the formation of the liquid products was as high as 34.3% at -1.5 V versus the saturated calomel electrode reference potential. In contrast, modification with Zn reduced the formic acid formation efficiency but enhanced the alcohol formation efficiency. Finally, modification with Au suppressed the selectivity toward the formation of both formic acid and alcohols.

Key words: Carbon dioxide reduction, Oxide-derived Copper, Potentiostatic deposition, Faraday efficiency, Modified by transition metal