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Dual-Atom Dopants Activated Copper Dilute Alloy Boosts Electroreduction CO2-to-C2+ Products at Ampere-Level Current Density

  • Feng Xie
  • , Wei Han
  • , Jiao Lan
  • , Chengjin Dong
  • , Yiteng Xu
  • , Kolan Madhav Reddy
  • , Yongzhen Zhang
  • , Yaqiong Su
  • , Yongwen Tan
  • Hunan University
  • School of Chemistry
  • Shanghai Jiao Tong University
  • Qufu Normal University

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) with H2O as the hydrogen donor provides a sustainable and green route to product energy-dense multi-carbon (C2+) products, but guiding selectivity remains challenging due to competing pathways. Here, we construct atomic Al and Zn into nanoporous Cu to regulate the adsorption energies of *CO and *H intermediates. Efficient electrosynthesis of C2+ products from CO2RR are achieved, delivering a Faradaic efficiency approaching 91.4%, a partial current density of −1.5 A cm−2, and a C2+/C1 ratio up to 26.9 in gas-fed flow cells. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the Al1─Cu sites preferentially promote CO2 activation, while Zn1─Cu sites facilitate H2O dissociation to ensure intermediate hydrogenation, thus synergistically driving the conversion of *CO to *CHO and promoting asymmetric *CHO─*CO coupling to form C2+ products on Cu site. This work establishes a dual-atom alloy that enhances proton supply to CO2 and intermediates while regulating *CO coverage, providing a rational design concept for electrocatalysts toward the selective reduction of CO2 to C2+ products.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2026
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • CORR
  • copper dilute alloy
  • dual-atom dopants
  • HO dissociation and CO activation

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