Hydrophobic, Ultrastable Cu δ+ for Robust CO 2 Electroreduction to C 2 Products at Ampere-Current Levels

Copper (Cu) is the only known material that can efficiently electrocatalyze CO2 to value-added multicarbon products. Owing to the instability of the Cuδ+ state and microscopic structure in reactions, Cu catalysts are still facing big challenges with low selectivity and poor durability, particularly at high current densities. Herein, we report a rational one-step surface coordination approach for the synthesis of Cu dendrites with an ultrastable Cuδ+ state and hydrophobicity (Cu CF), even after exposure to air for over 6 months. As a result, Cu CF exhibited a C2 FE of 90.6% at a partial current density of 453.3 mA cm–2 in a flow cell. A 400 h stable electrolysis at 800 mA and even a ground-breaking stable…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 52073009, 52011530190, 52272182, 51872013
• HE
  Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project

  Award: B14009
• AR
  Australian Research Council

  Awards: CE230100032, FL190100126