Atomic Layered ZnO Between Cu Nanoparticles and a PVP Polymer Layer Enable Exceptional Selectivity and Stability in Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to C2H4

Abstract This study employs a chemically controlled strategy to construct a few‐atomic‐layer ZnO structure integrated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and nanoscale metallic copper on active carbon. Hydrogen‐bond interactions from PVP's N‐vinylpyrrolidone allow ZnO to retain a specific proportio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lihui Zhou, Hung‐Wei Tsai, Ting‐Wei Kuo, Jui‐Cheng Kao, Yu‐Chieh Lo, Ji‐Min Chang, Tzu‐Hsuan Chiang, Sheng Dai, Kuan‐Wen Wang, Tsan‐Yao Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202501642
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract This study employs a chemically controlled strategy to construct a few‐atomic‐layer ZnO structure integrated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and nanoscale metallic copper on active carbon. Hydrogen‐bond interactions from PVP's N‐vinylpyrrolidone allow ZnO to retain a specific proportion of metal atoms, confining electrons at the Cu/ZnO interface to form CuZn nanoalloy clusters. The nanoalloy's dual role in promoting CO adsorption and C─C coupling synergistically boosts C2H4 production during electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR). Rapid Cu regeneration further increases adsorbed hydrogen (Hads) from water splitting, achieving a remarkable C2H4 selectivity of ≈50.2% with stable performance over 10 h. The Zn→Cu electron confinement and interfacial synergy at the organic‐oxide‐metal heterojunction underscore the catalyst's superior efficiency, offering a promising pathway for sustainable CO2‐to‐C2H4 conversion.
ISSN:2198-3844