Highly Dense Cu Nanowires for Low-Overpotential CO 2 Reduction
Abstract
Electrochemical reduction of CO2, an artificial way of carbon recycling, represents one promising solution for energy and environmental sustainability. However, it is challenged by the lack of active and selective catalysts. Here, we report a two-step synthesis of highly dense Cu nanowires as advanced electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. CuO nanowires were first grown by oxidation of Cu mesh in air and then reduced by either annealing in the presence of hydrogen or applying a cathodic electrochemical potential to produce Cu nanowires. The two reduction methods generated Cu nanowires with similar dimensions but distinct surface structures, which have provided an ideal platform for comparative studies of the effect of surface structure on the electrocatalytic properties. In particular, the Cu nanowires generated by electrochemical reduction were highly active and selective for CO2 reduction, requiring an overpotential of only 0.3 V to reach 1 mA/cm(2) electrode current density and achieving Faradaic efficiency toward CO as high as ∼60%. Our work has advanced the understanding of the structure-property relationship of Cu-based nanocatalysts, which could be valuable for the further development of advanced electrocatalytic materials for CO2 reduction.
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DFT studies further support that subsurface oxygen enhances the adsorption energy, and consequently, the surface coverage of *CO on Cu (100).
“DFT studies further support that subsurface oxygen enhances the adsorption energy, and consequently, the surface coverage of *CO on Cu (100).[107]”
From Electrochemical CO <sub>2</sub> Reduction into Chemical Feedstocks: From Mechanistic Electrocatalysis Models to System Design (2019) · cites this paper as [107]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Raciti, D., Livi, K. J., & Wang, C.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Chao
- Venue
- Nano Letters
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2015-09-15
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 6829-6835
- ISSN
- 1530-6984 (ISSN-L)
- 1530-6992
- OpenAlex
- W2331744161
- Cited by
- 395
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 11.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nano Letters (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Environment, Energy, Sustainability and Health Institute, Johns Hopkins University
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities
- Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET-1437219)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Catalysis › Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Keywords
- CO2 reduction, copper nanowires, electrocatalysts, CuO nanowires, electrochemical reduction, hydrogen annealing, surface structure, CO selectivity, Faradaic efficiency, overpotential, structure-property relationships, carbon recycling
- MeSH terms
- Carbon Dioxide, Catalysis, Copper, Nanowires
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