title: Morphology-Directed Selective Production of Ethylene or Ethane from CO2on a Cu Mesopore Electrode.
abstract: The electrocatalytic conversion of CO2to value-added hydrocarbons is receiving significant attention as a promising way to close the broken carbon-cycle. While most metal catalysts produce C1species, such as carbon monoxide and formate, the production of various hydrocarbons and alcohols comprising more than two carbons has been achieved using copper (Cu)-based catalysts only. Methods for producing specific C2reduction outcomes with high selectivity, however, are not available thus far. Herein, the morphological effect of a Cu mesopore electrode on the selective production of C2products, ethylene or ethane, is presented. Cu mesopore electrodes with precisely controlled pore widths and depths were prepared by using a thermal deposition process on anodized aluminum oxide. With this simple synthesis method, we demonstrated that C2chemical selectivity can be tuned by systematically altering the morphology. Supported by computational simulations, we proved that nanomorphology can change the local pH and, additionally, retention time of key intermediates by confining the chemicals inside the pores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Dong
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, 17104, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Ri
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Big Data Institute, Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyomin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, 17104, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hyung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Nam
keywords: CO2 reduction; electrocatalysis; energy conversion; nanoelectrodes