CO <sub>2</sub> electroreduction to ethylene via hydroxide-mediated copper catalysis at an abrupt interface
Cao‐Thang Dinh(University of Toronto), Thomas Burdyny(University of Toronto), Md Golam Kibria(University of Toronto), Ali Seifitokaldani(University of Toronto), Christine M. Gabardo(University of Toronto), F. Pelayo Garcı́a de Arquer(University of Toronto), Amirreza Kiani(University of Toronto), Jonathan P. Edwards(University of Toronto), Phil De Luna(University of Toronto), Oleksandr S. Bushuyev(University of Toronto), Chengqin Zou(Tianjin University), Rafael Quintero‐Bermudez(University of Toronto), Yuanjie Pang(University of Toronto), David Sinton(University of Toronto), Edward H. Sargent(University of Toronto)
Cited by 2,413
Abstract
A very basic pathway from CO 2 to ethylene Ethylene is an important commodity chemical for plastics. It is considered a tractable target for synthesizing renewably from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The challenge is that the performance of the copper electrocatalysts used for this conversion under the required basic reaction conditions suffers from the competing reaction of CO 2 with the base to form bicarbonate. Dinh et al. designed an electrode that tolerates the base by optimizing CO 2 diffusion to the catalytic sites (see the Perspective by Ager and Lapkin). This catalyst design delivers 70% efficiency for 150 hours. Science , this issue p. 783 ; see also p. 707