The electroreduction of carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons has been proposed as a promising way to utilize CO2 and maintain the ecosystem carbon balance. However, the selective reduction of CO2 to C2 hydrocarbons is still challenging. In this study, a highly efficient heterostructured catalyst has been developed, composed of a carbon nitride (CN)-encapsulated copper oxide hybrid (Cux O/CN). The interaction between the metal and carbon nitride in the heterostructured catalysts improves the intrinsic electrical conductivity and the charge transfer processes at metal-support interfaces. A remarkable enhancement in the selectivity of hydrocarbons is achieved with these modified Cu-based electrocatalysts, with an onset potential of -0.4 V and high C2 H4 faradaic efficiency of 42.2 %, and these catalysts can also effectively suppress H2 evolution during the CO2 reduction reaction. This work provides a simple and cost-effective method for synthesizing CN-encapsulated catalysts that provides the possibility of efficiently converting CO2 into C2 hydrocarbons.
Keywords: CO2 valorization; copper; electrocatalysis; ethylene; heterostructures.
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