This communication studies the CO 2 reduction reaction in H 2 O/CH 3 CN mixtures on nanostructured copper. It was found that nanostructured copper electrode presents a welldefined voltammogram in acetonitrile, where it can be seen three signals related to adsorbed or surface attached (thin films) species. Also, it was found that the current density of CO 2 reduction in mixtures H 2 O/CH 3 CN on nanostructured copper electrodes with a molar fraction around 0.25 is higher than those observed with molar fractions lower than 0.15 or higher than 0.35. Finally, nanostructured Cu electrodes show higher catalytic activity towards the CO 2 reduction than copper electrode.

Most of electrocatalytic reactions occur in an aqueous environment. Understanding the influence of water structure on reaction dynamics is fundamental in electrocatalysis. In this work, the role of liquid water structure on the oxygen reduction at Pt(111) electrode is analyzed in methanesulfonic (MTSA) and perchloric acids. This is because different anions can exert a different influence on liquid water structure. Results reveal a lower electrode activity in MTSA than in HClO 4 solutions and they are discussed in light of anion influence in water structural ordering. From them, the existence of an outer-sphere step in the ORR mechanism is proposed

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