Tuning the intermediate reaction barriers by a CuPd catalyst to improve the selectivity of CO2 electroreduction to C2 products

Electrochemical CO2 reduction is a promising strategy for utilization of CO2 and intermittent excess electricity. Cu is the only single-metal catalyst that can electrochemically convert CO2 to multi-carbon products. However, Cu has an undesirable selectivity and activity for C2 products, due to its insufficient amount of CO* for C-C coupling. Considering the strong CO2 adsorption and ultra-fast reaction kinetics of CO* formation on Pd, an intimate CuPd(100) interface was designed to lower the intermediate reaction barriers and then improve the efficiency of C2 products. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the CuPd(100) interface has enhanced CO2 adsorption and decreased CO2* hydrogenation energy barrier, which are beneficial for C-C coupling. The potential-determining step (PDS) barrier of CO2 to C2 products on CuPd(100) interface is 0.61 eV, which is lower than that on Cu(100) (0.72 eV). Motivated by the DFT calculation, the CuPd(100) interface catalyst was prepared by a facile chemical solution method and demonstrated by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The CO2 temperature programmed desorption (CO2-TPD) and gas sensor experiments proved the enhancements of CO2 adsorption and CO2* hydrogenation abilities on CuPd(100) interface catalyst. As a result, the obtained CuPd(100) interface catalyst exhibits a C2 Faradaic efficiency of 50.3 (+/-) 1.2% at -1.4 VRHE in 0.1 M KHCO3, which is 2.1 times higher than 23.6(+/-) 1.5% of Cu catalyst. This work provides a rational design of Cu-based electrocatalyst for multi-carbon products by fine-tuning the intermediate reaction barriers.