Enhanced CO2 electroreduction on armchair graphene nanoribbons edge-decorated with copper

Inspired by the recent experimental synthesis of graphene nanoribbons （GNKs） and theoretical research on their edge-decoration, we comprehensively studied the electrocatalytic performance of GNRs edge-decorated with Cu for CO2 reduction. Compared to zigzag GNRs, the Cu-terminated armchair GNRs with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano research 2017-05, Vol.10 (5), p.1641-1650
Main Authors: Zhu, Guizhi, Li, Yawei, Zhu, Haiyan, Su, Haibin, Chan, Siew Hwa, Sun, Qiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra
Biomedicine
Biotechnology
Carbon dioxide
Catalysis
Catalysts
Chemistry and Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Copper
Decoration
Electrowinning
Free energy
Graphene
Hydrogen evolution reactions
Materials Science
Nanoribbons
Nanotechnology
Research Article
Selectivity
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Summary:Inspired by the recent experimental synthesis of graphene nanoribbons （GNKs） and theoretical research on their edge-decoration, we comprehensively studied the electrocatalytic performance of GNRs edge-decorated with Cu for CO2 reduction. Compared to zigzag GNRs, the Cu-terminated armchair GNRs with a width of n = 3p ＋ 2 were more efficient catalysts for producing methanol from CO2 with a free energy barrier of less than 0.5 eV, offering the advantages of a lower overpotential and higher selectivity than bulk Cu and other graphene-supported Cu structures. On the other hand, the competing hydrogen evolution reaction could be effectively suppressed by Cu-terminated armchair GNRs. Hence, the edge-decorated GNRs offer great flexibility for tuning the catalytic efficiency and selectivity for CO2 electroreduction.
ISSN:1998-0124
1998-0000
DOI:10.1007/s12274-016-1362-9