Tuning the C1/C2 Selectivity of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction on Cu–CeO2 Nanorods by Oxidation State Control

Ceria (CeO₂ ) is one of the most extensively used rare earth oxides. Recently, it has been used as a support material for metal catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion. However, to date, the nature of metal/CeO₂ interfaces and their impact on electrochemical processes remains unclear. Here, a Cu-CeO₂ nanorod electrochemical CO₂ reduction catalyst is presented. Using operando analysis and computational techniques, it is found that, on the application of a reductive electrochemical potential, Cu undergoes an abrupt change in solubility in the ceria matrix converting from less stable randomly dissolved single atomic Cu²⁺ ions to (Cu⁰ ,Cu¹⁺ ) nanoclusters. Unlike single atomic Cu, which produces C₁ products as the main product during electrochemical CO₂ reduction, the coexistence of (Cu⁰ ,Cu¹⁺ ) clusters lowers the energy barrier for C-C coupling and enables the selective production of C₂₊ hydrocarbons. As a result, the coexistence of (Cu⁰ ,Cu¹⁺ ) in the clusters at the Cu-ceria interface results in a C₂₊ partial current density/unit Cu weight 27 times that of a corresponding Cu-carbon catalyst under the same conditions.