Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide on Cu/CuO Core/Shell Catalysts

Abstract We investigate the electrochemical behavior of different loadings of a Cu(core)/CuO(shell) catalyst in a standard three‐electrode cell, which reveals transformations between Cu, Cu I , and CuO species. The electroreduction of CO 2 on the catalyst is performed in an aqueous solution within a flow reactor. CO and HCOOH are the main products, with H 2 as a byproduct. When the catalyst loading is 1.0 mg cm −2 , the faradaic efficiencies of CO and HCOOH are higher than those with other catalyst loadings, with a short reaction time. This paper also focuses on the experimental and kinetic details of the electroreduction process of CO 2 to CO and HCOOH when using the Cu/CuO catalyst. Reactions are modeled by using an in‐series, first‐order reaction, and the models are verified to reasonably describe the two products formed during the electroreduction of CO 2 . According to the kinetic analysis, the rate constant for HCOOH production is higher than that of CO.