Three-dimensional, highly interconnected copper nanowire networks are designed and fabricated by electrodeposition in etched ion track polymer templates with interconnected nanochannels and subsequently applied as a catalyst for the electrochemical CO 2 reduction toward hydrocarbons and alcohols in an aqueous electrolyte. The specific surface area expressed by the nanowire networks can be adjusted by tailoring the wire length, wire diameter, and nanowire number density to values between 70 cm 2 and 300 cm 2 per cm 2 geometrical sample area. The conversion efficiency and selectivity of CO 2 reduction toward liquid-and gas-phase products are studied as a function of the applied potential. Before and after the CO 2 reduction reaction, the nanowire networks are characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and by X-ray diffraction, evidencing their stability during CO 2 reduction in a potential region between −0.5 V and −0.93 V versus RHE.
Ionically conducting lanthanum fluoride (LaF3), displaying a nanoscopic lamellar structure, has been synthesized at the surface of an aqueous solution of LaCl3 and HF. The structure and the chemical composition of the conductor have been analyzed by SEM, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR, and (19)F magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The fluorine dynamics have been studied by NMR diffusometry and relaxometry in a temperature range from room temperature up to 875 K. The fluorine self-diffusion coefficient of the nanostructured LaF3 is about two orders of magnitude larger than that of bulk LaF3. This novel material is highly promising for many typical applications of fluorine ionic systems.
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