IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-54282-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Roles of copper(I) in water-promoted CO2 electrolysis to multi-carbon compounds

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyang He

    (Xiamen University)

  • Li Lin

    (Xiamen University)

  • Xiangying Li

    (Xiamen University)

  • Minzhi Zhu

    (Xiamen University)

  • Qinghong Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Shunji Xie

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Bingbao Mei

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fanfei Sun

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zheng Jiang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jun Cheng

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

  • Ye Wang

    (Xiamen University
    Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM))

Abstract

The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is promising for practical applications of the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to multi-carbon (C2+) compounds. Water management is crucial in the MEA electrolyser without catholyte, but few studies have clarified whether the co-feeding water in cathode can enhance C2+ formation. Here, we report our discovery of pivotal roles of a suitable nanocomposite electrocatalyst with abundant Cu2O−Cu0 interfaces in accomplishing water-promoting effect on C2+ formation, achieving a current density of 1.0 A cm−2 and a 19% single-pass C2+ yield at 80% C2+ Faradaic efficiency in MEA. The operando characterizations confirm the co-existence of Cu+ with Cu0 during CO2RR at ampere-level current densities. Our studies reveal that Cu+ works for water activation and aids C‒C coupling by enhancing formations of adsorbed CO and CHO species. This work offers a strategy to boost CO2RR to C2+ compounds in industrial-relevant MEA by combining water management and electrocatalyst design.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyang He & Li Lin & Xiangying Li & Minzhi Zhu & Qinghong Zhang & Shunji Xie & Bingbao Mei & Fanfei Sun & Zheng Jiang & Jun Cheng & Ye Wang, 2024. "Roles of copper(I) in water-promoted CO2 electrolysis to multi-carbon compounds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54282-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54282-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54282-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-54282-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yajun Zheng & Hedan Yao & Ruinan Di & Zhicheng Xiang & Qiang Wang & Fangfang Lu & Yu Li & Guangxing Yang & Qiang Ma & Zhiping Zhang, 2022. "Water coordinated on Cu(I)-based catalysts is the oxygen source in CO2 reduction to CO," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Yao-Hui Wang & Shisheng Zheng & Wei-Min Yang & Ru-Yu Zhou & Quan-Feng He & Petar Radjenovic & Jin-Chao Dong & Shunning Li & Jiaxin Zheng & Zhi-Lin Yang & Gary Attard & Feng Pan & Zhong-Qun Tian & Jian, 2021. "In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals the structure and dissociation of interfacial water," Nature, Nature, vol. 600(7887), pages 81-85, December.
    3. Xiaoxia Chang & Sudarshan Vijay & Yaran Zhao & Nicholas J. Oliveira & Karen Chan & Bingjun Xu, 2022. "Understanding the complementarities of surface-enhanced infrared and Raman spectroscopies in CO adsorption and electrochemical reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Ying Wang & Yao Yang & Shuangfeng Jia & Xiaoming Wang & Kangjie Lyu & Yanqiu Peng & He Zheng & Xing Wei & Huan Ren & Li Xiao & Jianbo Wang & David A. Muller & Héctor D. Abruña & Bing Joe Hwang & Junta, 2019. "Synergistic Mn-Co catalyst outperforms Pt on high-rate oxygen reduction for alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. David Wakerley & Sarah Lamaison & Joshua Wicks & Auston Clemens & Jeremy Feaster & Daniel Corral & Shaffiq A. Jaffer & Amitava Sarkar & Marc Fontecave & Eric B. Duoss & Sarah Baker & Edward H. Sargent, 2022. "Gas diffusion electrodes, reactor designs and key metrics of low-temperature CO2 electrolysers," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 130-143, February.
    6. Dongfang Cheng & Zhi-Jian Zhao & Gong Zhang & Piaoping Yang & Lulu Li & Hui Gao & Sihang Liu & Xin Chang & Sai Chen & Tuo Wang & Geoffrey A. Ozin & Zhipan Liu & Jinlong Gong, 2021. "The nature of active sites for carbon dioxide electroreduction over oxide-derived copper catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Yuvraj Y. Birdja & Elena Pérez-Gallent & Marta C. Figueiredo & Adrien J. Göttle & Federico Calle-Vallejo & Marc T. M. Koper, 2019. "Advances and challenges in understanding the electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(9), pages 732-745, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xin Chen & Junxiang Chen & Huayu Chen & Qiqi Zhang & Jiaxuan Li & Jiwei Cui & Yanhui Sun & Defa Wang & Jinhua Ye & Lequan Liu, 2023. "Promoting water dissociation for efficient solar driven CO2 electroreduction via improving hydroxyl adsorption," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Yufei Cao & Zhu Chen & Peihao Li & Adnan Ozden & Pengfei Ou & Weiyan Ni & Jehad Abed & Erfan Shirzadi & Jinqiang Zhang & David Sinton & Jun Ge & Edward H. Sargent, 2023. "Surface hydroxide promotes CO2 electrolysis to ethylene in acidic conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Xiaoju Yang & Chao Rong & Li Zhang & Zhenkun Ye & Zhiming Wei & Chengdi Huang & Qiao Zhang & Qing Yuan & Yueming Zhai & Fu-Zhen Xuan & Bingjun Xu & Bowei Zhang & Xuan Yang, 2024. "Mechanistic insights into C-C coupling in electrochemical CO reduction using gold superlattices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Lingbin Xie & Longlu Wang & Xia Liu & Jianmei Chen & Xixing Wen & Weiwei Zhao & Shujuan Liu & Qiang Zhao, 2024. "Flexible tungsten disulfide superstructure engineering for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution in anion exchange membrane water electrolysers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Qiong Lei & Liang Huang & Jun Yin & Bambar Davaasuren & Youyou Yuan & Xinglong Dong & Zhi-Peng Wu & Xiaoqian Wang & Ke Xin Yao & Xu Lu & Yu Han, 2022. "Structural evolution and strain generation of derived-Cu catalysts during CO2 electroreduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Tao Zhang & Qitong Ye & Zengyu Han & Qingyi Liu & Yipu Liu & Dongshuang Wu & Hong Jin Fan, 2024. "Biaxial strain induced OH engineer for accelerating alkaline hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Hao Shi & Tanyuan Wang & Jianyun Liu & Weiwei Chen & Shenzhou Li & Jiashun Liang & Shuxia Liu & Xuan Liu & Zhao Cai & Chao Wang & Dong Su & Yunhui Huang & Lior Elbaz & Qing Li, 2023. "A sodium-ion-conducted asymmetric electrolyzer to lower the operation voltage for direct seawater electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Junyuan Duan & Tianyang Liu & Yinghe Zhao & Ruoou Yang & Yang Zhao & Wenbin Wang & Youwen Liu & Huiqiao Li & Yafei Li & Tianyou Zhai, 2022. "Active and conductive layer stacked superlattices for highly selective CO2 electroreduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Cheng Du & Joel P. Mills & Asfaw G. Yohannes & Wei Wei & Lei Wang & Siyan Lu & Jian-Xiang Lian & Maoyu Wang & Tao Guo & Xiyang Wang & Hua Zhou & Cheng-Jun Sun & John Z. Wen & Brian Kendall & Martin Co, 2023. "Cascade electrocatalysis via AgCu single-atom alloy and Ag nanoparticles in CO2 electroreduction toward multicarbon products," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Sung-Fu Hung & Aoni Xu & Xue Wang & Fengwang Li & Shao-Hui Hsu & Yuhang Li & Joshua Wicks & Eduardo González Cervantes & Armin Sedighian Rasouli & Yuguang C. Li & Mingchuan Luo & Dae-Hyun Nam & Ning W, 2022. "A metal-supported single-atom catalytic site enables carbon dioxide hydrogenation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Peng, Wanxi & Chuong Nguyen, Thi Hong & Nguyen, Dang Le Tri & Wang, Ting & Van Thi Tran, Thi & Le, Trung Hieu & Le, Hai Khoa & Grace, Andrews Nirmala & Singh, Pardeep & Raizadaa, Pankaj & Nguyen Dinh,, 2021. "A roadmap towards the development of superior photocatalysts for solar- driven CO2-to-fuels production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    12. Che Lah, Nurul Akmal, 2021. "Late transition metal nanocomplexes: Applications for renewable energy conversion and storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    13. Joey Disch & Luca Bohn & Susanne Koch & Michael Schulz & Yiyong Han & Alessandro Tengattini & Lukas Helfen & Matthias Breitwieser & Severin Vierrath, 2022. "High-resolution neutron imaging of salt precipitation and water transport in zero-gap CO2 electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    14. Ruijuan Zhao & Lei Li & Qianbao Wu & Wei Luo & Qiu Zhang & Chunhua Cui, 2024. "Spontaneous formation of reactive redox radical species at the interface of gas diffusion electrode," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    15. Ruixin Yang & Yanming Cai & Yongbing Qi & Zhuodong Tang & Jun-Jie Zhu & Jinxiang Li & Wenlei Zhu & Zixuan Chen, 2024. "How local electric field regulates C–C coupling at a single nanocavity in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    16. Kaili Yao & Jun Li & Adnan Ozden & Haibin Wang & Ning Sun & Pengyu Liu & Wen Zhong & Wei Zhou & Jieshu Zhou & Xi Wang & Hanqi Liu & Yongchang Liu & Songhua Chen & Yongfeng Hu & Ziyun Wang & David Sint, 2024. "In situ copper faceting enables efficient CO2/CO electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Pengtang Wang & Hao Yang & Cheng Tang & Yu Wu & Yao Zheng & Tao Cheng & Kenneth Davey & Xiaoqing Huang & Shi-Zhang Qiao, 2022. "Boosting electrocatalytic CO2–to–ethanol production via asymmetric C–C coupling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Jiaqi Feng & Libing Zhang & Shoujie Liu & Liang Xu & Xiaodong Ma & Xingxing Tan & Limin Wu & Qingli Qian & Tianbin Wu & Jianling Zhang & Xiaofu Sun & Buxing Han, 2023. "Modulating adsorbed hydrogen drives electrochemical CO2-to-C2 products," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Subrato Acharjya & Jiacheng Chen & Minghui Zhu & Chong Peng, 2021. "Elucidating the reactivity and nature of active sites for tin phthalocyanine during CO2 reduction," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 11(6), pages 1191-1197, December.
    20. Jiajie Hou & Bingjun Xu & Qi Lu, 2024. "Influence of electric double layer rigidity on CO adsorption and electroreduction rate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54282-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.