Copper nanoparticles stabilized by reduced graphene oxide for CO2 reduction reaction

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is one of the main gases produced by human activity and is responsible for the green house effect. Numerous routes for CO 2 capture and reduction are currently under investigation. Another approach to mitigate the CO 2 content in the atmosphere is to convert it into useful species such as hydrocarbon molecules that can be used for fuel. In this view, copper is one of the most interesting catalyst materials for CO 2 reduction due to its remarkable ability to generate hydrocarbon fuels. However, its utilization as an effective catalyst for CO 2 reduction is hampered by its oxidation and relatively high voltages. We have fabricated hybrid materials for CO 2 reduction by combining the activity of copper and the conductivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) deposited on rGO have demonstrated higher current density and lower overpotential compared to other copper-based electrodes that we have tested. The CuNPs on rGO also exhibit better stability, preserving their catalytic activity without degradation for several hours.

Carbon Solving Carbon's Problems: Recent Progress of Nanostructured Carbon‐Based Catalysts for the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2

“…As a result, electron transfer to adsorbed CO 2 molecules (RDS) was improved which in turn improves the CO 2 RR kinetics. A similar result was observed for Cu NPs on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supports, [67] in which the presence of surface functional groups stabilises the NPs by decreasing the interfacial energy between the Cu and rGO. [28] …”

Effect of Annealing Treatment on Electrocatalytic Properties of Copper Electrodes toward Enhanced CO2 Reduction

“…In this context, it is still necessary to develop catalysts with onset potential and current densities optimized for CO 2 RR. The electrode stability is another aspect of fundamental importance in electrocatalysis, since it is necessary that the catalysts exhibit high stability to be applied in several cycles or for long operation times ,,. Researchers have observed that despite bulk Cu electrodes are capable of reducing CO 2 electrochemically in aqueous solution, their stability is insufficient for practical use .…”

“…The electrode stability is another aspect of fundamental importance in electrocatalysis, since it is necessary that the catalysts exhibit high stability to be applied in several cycles or for long operation times ,,. Researchers have observed that despite bulk Cu electrodes are capable of reducing CO 2 electrochemically in aqueous solution, their stability is insufficient for practical use . In this sense, the low electrochemical stability of Cu electrodes must be overcome for practical purposes as catalysts for CO 2 reduction .…”

Formation and Characterization of Copper Nanocube-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide Film

“…These could be ascribed to the synergistic effect of hydrogen bonding between CuNCs and rGO [19,20]. Also, contrast found in FTIR spectrum at 860 cm −1 and 1400 cm −1 correspond to deformation of Cu-O-H, stretching of C-O epoxide, and other peaks before and after rGO-CuNCs preparation which reveals that CuNCs were decorated on rGO [21]. These observations demonstrate that the molecules in rGO facilitate coordination with CuNPs species.…”