Particle Size Effects in the Catalytic Electroreduction of CO 2 on Cu Nanoparticles

A study of particle size effects during the catalytic CO2 electroreduction on size-controlled Cu nanoparticles (NPs) is presented. Cu NP catalysts in the 2-15 nm mean size range were prepared, and their catalytic activity and selectivity during CO2 electroreduction were analyzed and compared to a bulk Cu electrode. A dramatic increase in the catalytic activity and selectivity for H2 and CO was observed with decreasing Cu particle size, in particular, for NPs below 5 nm. Hydrocarbon (methane and ethylene) selectivity was increasingly suppressed for nanoscale Cu surfaces. The size dependence of the surface atomic coordination of model spherical Cu particles was used to rationalize the experimental results.…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Award: DE-FG02-08ER15995
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: STR 596/3-1, EXC-1069