articleNature CommunicationsApr 30, 2025GOLD OA

Structure Sensitivity and Catalyst Restructuring for CO2 Electro-reduction on Copper

University of California, Los Angeles · Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society · +2 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

Abstract Cu is the most promising metal catalyst for CO 2 electroreduction (CO 2 RR) to multi-carbon products, yet the structure sensitivity of the reaction and the stability versus restructuring of the catalyst surface under reaction conditions remain controversial. Here, atomic scale simulations of surface energies and reaction pathway kinetics supported by experimental evidence unveil that CO 2 RR does not take place on perfect planar Cu(111) and Cu(100) surfaces but rather on steps or kinks. These planar surfaces tend to restructure in reaction conditions to the active stepped surfaces, with the strong binding of CO on defective sites acting as a thermodynamic driving force. Notably, we identify that the…

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