Asymmetrically Coordinated Cu Dual‐Atom‐Sites Enables Selective CO2 Electroreduction to Ethanol

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2024-11, Vol.36 (48), p.e2409797-n/a
• Main Authors: Chen, Changli, Sun, Zhiyi, Qin, Gangzhi, Wang, Bingchao, Liu, Minggang, Liang, Qingru, Li, Xinyu, Pang, Runzhuo, Guo, Yingshu, Li, Yujing, Chen, Wenxing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: asymmetric coordination; Asymmetry; Atomic properties; Bonding strength; Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; Chemical bonds; Chemical reduction; Chemical synthesis; CO2 reduction reaction; Cu dual atom site; Ethanol; ethanol selectivity; Liquid fuels; Mass transfer; Materials selection; nest‐like structure; Reaction mechanisms; Selectivity
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202409797

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) to value‐added liquid fuels is a highly attractive solution for carbon‐neutral recycling, especially for C2+ products. However, the selectivity control to preferable products is a great challenge due to the complex multi‐electron proton transfer process. In this work, a series of Cu atomic dispersed catalysts are synthesized by regulating the coordination structures to optimize the CO2RR selectivity. Cu2‐SNC catalyst with a uniquely asymmetrical coordinated CuN2‐CuNS site shows high ethanol selective with the FE of 62.6% at −0.8 V versus RHE and 60.2% at 0.9 V versus RHE in H‐Cell and Flow‐Cell test, respectively. Besides, the nest‐like structure of Cu2‐SNC is beneficial to the mass transfer process and the selection of catalytic products. In situ experiments and theory calculations reveal the reaction mechanisms of such high selectivity of ethanol. The S atoms weaken the bonding ability of the adjacent Cu to the carbon atom, which accelerates the selection from *CHCOH to generate *CHCHOH, resulting in the high selectivity of ethanol. This work indicates a promising strategy in the rational design of asymmetrically coordinated single, dual, or tri‐atom catalysts and provides a candidate material for CO2RR to produce ethanol. The asymmetrically coordinated Cu dual‐atom sites with CuN2‐CuNS moiety exhibits excellent electrocatalytic CO2RR performances. The asymmetrical electron cloud distribution around the CuN2‐CuNS of the asymmetrically coordinated Cu dual‐atom catalyst destabilizes the ethylene reaction intermediates and thereby promotes ethanol production.