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research article

Polyaniline-supported copper nanocrystals for electrochemical CO2 reduction to methane

Chen, Rong
•
Gao, Jing  
•
Zhao, Shuangte
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May 12, 2025
Chem Catalysis

Achieving industrial electrochemical CO2 reduction necessitates the strategic design of electrocatalysts with high activity, superior selectivity, and excellent stability. Herein, we developed spatially dispersed copper nanocrystals supported by polyaniline (PANI-CuNCs) for electrochemical CO2 reduction, achieving a faradaic efficiency of 68.6% ± 2.2% toward methane at −300 mA cm−2. The chelation of the Cu precursor within the oxidized emeraldine base (EB) is crucial for forming isolated CuNCs. The PANI substrate facilitates proton shuttling to Cu(111) sites, enhancing methane production by promoting protonation and reducing ∗CO coverage. In situ Raman and theoretical calculations show that PANI improves CO2 adsorption and activation by creating a hydrophilic environment, highlighting its potential for industrial CO2 reduction electrocatalysis. Our work introduced a promising strategy that utilizes polymers as substrates to prepare well-dispersed NCs for electrocatalysis, highlighting the potential of such systems in advancing the field of industrial electrochemical CO2 reduction.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.checat.2025.101389
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-105004908774

Author(s)
Chen, Rong

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Gao, Jing  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Zhao, Shuangte

Zhejiang University of Technology

Wang, Hongguang

Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research

Zhuang, Guilin

Zhejiang University of Technology

van Aken, Peter A.

Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research

Grätzel, Michael  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Luo, Jingshan

Nankai University

Date Issued

2025-05-12

Published in
Chem Catalysis
Article Number

101389

Subjects

Cu nanocrystals

•

Electrochemical CO2 reduction.

•

flow electrolyzer

•

metal-polymer composites

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methane electrosynthesis

•

SDG13: Climate action

•

SDG7: Affordable and clean energy

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LPI  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

Natalia Gasilova

ICP-OES

European Union

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Available on Infoscience
May 21, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/250308
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