Work

Role of Subsurface Oxygen on Cu Surfaces for CO2 Electrochemical Reduction

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Under ambient conditions, copper with oxygen near the surface displays strengthened CO 2 and CO adsorption energies. This finding is often used to rationalize differences seen in product distributions between Cu-oxide and pure Cu electrodes during electrochemical CO 2 reduction. However, little evidence exists to confirm the presence of oxygen within first few layers of the Cu matrix under relevant experimental reducing conditions. Using density functional theory calculations, we discuss the stability of subsurface oxygen from thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives and show that under reducing potentials subsurface oxygen alone should have negligible effects on the activity of crystalline Cu.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b04983

Authors: Meredith Fields, Xin Hong, Jens K. Nørskov, Karen Chan

Institutions: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Zhejiang University

Language: English

Topic: CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Division of Graduate Education

Awards: TAS::89 0321::TAS; NEW- JOINT CENTER FOR ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS (JCAP), PI NATHAN LEWIS, TAS::89 0321::TAS; NEW- JOINT CENTER FOR ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS (JCAP), PI NATHAN LEWIS