Observation of metal-organic interphase in Cu-based electrochemical CO2-to-ethanol conversion

Interphases are critical in electrochemical systems, influencing performance by controlling ion transport and stability. This study explores a metal-organic interphase in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) on Cu, extending the concept of interphases to CO2 conversion. Investigating organic modifications on CuOx, we discover metal-organic interphases over 10 nm thick in highly ethanol-selective systems, contrary to the expected monolayer adsorption. Using an automated platform, 1080 CO2RR experiments with 180 molecular modifiers identify functional groups affecting selectivity for ethanol and multi-carbon (C2+) products. We find that these modifiers consistently produce metal-organic interphases on…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22071207, 22121001, 22125502