Surface Modification of Nano-Cu O for Controlling CO Electrochemical Reduction to Ethylene and Syngas.

In the surroundings of carbon neutrality, nano-Cu O is considered a promising catalyst for the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (ECO RR), whose improvements in product selectivity still require considerable efforts. Here, we present an efficient strategy for controlling the ECO RR product by modifying the surface of nano-Cu O, i.e., by controlling the exposed facets via a reductant-controlled method to achieve the highest C H selectivity (Faradic efficiency=74.1 %) for Cu O-based catalysts in neutral electrolytes, and introducing a well-suited metal-organic framework (MOF) coating on the surface of nano-Cu O to obtain syngas completely with an appropriate H :CO ratio. Detailed mechanism and key intermediate have been illustrated by DFT calculations. Our systematic strategy is expected to control the ECO RR product, improve the selectivity, and provide a reliable method for CO management and the green production of important carbon resources.