Selective Formation of C2 Products from Electrochemical CO2 Reduction over Cu1.8Se Nanowires

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 into higher-value C2 products (e.g., C2H4 and EtOH) is desirable for applications in chemical and fuel industries. Herein, we report that Cu1.8Se nanowires supported on Cu foam can function as an efficient electrocatalyst for selective reduction of CO2 to C2 products, with the Faradaic efficiencies for C2H4 and EtOH production reaching 55% and 24% at −1.1 V, respectively. Additionally, these nanowires also demonstrate a good long-term stability. We believe that the high C2/C1 product selectivity exhibited by the resulting catalyst is more likely due to a high CO2 pressure and the presence of Se species.