Investigation of the performance and stability of copper and brass nanoparticles for CO2 reduction in organic electrolytes

Numerous catalysts and reaction conditions with improved performance, selectivity, and stability for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction have been reported. However, little is known about the influence of binary catalysts and their role on this reaction in organic electrolytes. Thus, we herei...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ruth Witzel, Leonie Wildersinn, Enrico Tusini, Steffen Czioska, Inga Dorner, Anna Zimina, Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt, Philipp Röse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of CO2 Utilization
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982025001222
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Summary:Numerous catalysts and reaction conditions with improved performance, selectivity, and stability for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction have been reported. However, little is known about the influence of binary catalysts and their role on this reaction in organic electrolytes. Thus, we herein report on the catalyst characteristics of copper and copper-zinc nanoparticles for CO2 reduction in aprotic electrolytes. We provide insights into the impact of varying CuZn ratios on the performance and stability, showing that brass in the α-phase has lower overpotentials and a higher electrochemical activity, with an optimum for CuZn 80/20. Although using the same catalyst, we compared acetonitrile and N,N-dimethylformamide based electrolytes, and found the highest performance for acetonitrile. Under anhydrous conditions, absolute control of Faradaic efficiency is possible, resulting in > 95 % CO; only traces of oxalate and no parasitic hydrogen evolution were found. Our study reveals that aside from proper process conditions for CO2 reduction in organic electrolytes, the design of the catalysts plays an equally decisive role for improved performance, selectivity and stability.
ISSN:2212-9839