Size-Dependent Reactivity Of Gold-Copper Bimetallic Nanoparticles During Co2 Electroreduction

Keywords

Bimetallic; CO electroreduction 2; Copper; Gold; Nanoparticle; Size effect

Abstract

New catalysts are needed to achieve lower overpotentials and higher faradaic efficiency for desirable products during the electroreduction of CO2. In this study, we explore the size-dependence of monodisperse gold-copper alloy nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by inverse micelle encapsulation as catalysts for CO2 electroreduction. X-ray spectroscopy revealed that gold-copper alloys were formed and were heavily oxidized in their initial as prepared state. Current density was found to increase significantly for smaller NPs due to the increasing population of strongly binding low coordinated sites on NPs below 5 nm. Product analysis showed formation of H2, CO, and CH4, with faradaic selectivity showing a minor dependence on size. The selectivity trends observed are assigned to reaction-induced segregation of gold atoms to the particle surface and altered electronic or geometric properties due to alloying.

Publication Date

6-15-2017

Publication Title

Catalysis Today

Volume

288

Number of Pages

30-36

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2016.09.017

Socpus ID

84992046982 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84992046982

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