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Stable Aqueous Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction by a Cu2O Dark Cathode with Improved Selectivity for Carbonaceous Products.
- Source :
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition; 7/25/2016, Vol. 55 Issue 31, p8840-8845, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Photocatalytic reduction of CO<subscript>2</subscript> to produce fuels is a promising way to reduce CO<subscript>2</subscript> emission and address the energy crisis. However, the H<subscript>2</subscript> evolution reaction competes with CO<subscript>2</subscript> photoreduction, which would lower the overall selectivity for carbonaceous products. Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O has emerged as a promising material for suppressing the H<subscript>2</subscript> evolution. However, it suffers from poor stability, which is commonly regarded as the result of the electron-induced reduction of Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O. This paper describes a simple strategy using Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O as a dark cathode and TiO<subscript>2</subscript> as a photoanode to achieve stable aqueous CO<subscript>2</subscript> reduction with a high Faradaic efficiency of 87.4 % and a selectivity of 92.6 % for carbonaceous products. We have shown that the photogenerated holes, instead of the electrons, primarily account for the instability of Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O. Therefore, Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O was used as a dark cathode to minimize the adverse effects of holes, by which an improved stability was achieved compared to the Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O photocathode under illumination. Additionally, direct exposure of the Cu<subscript>2</subscript>O surface to the electrolyte was identified as a critical factor for the high selectivity for carbonaceous products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CATHODES
CARBONACEOUS aerosols
PHOTOCATALYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRONS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14337851
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 31
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 116892285
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201602973