Low-Crystalline AuCuIn Catalyst for Gaseous CO2 Electrolyzer

Abstract

Despite its importance for the establishment of a carbon-neutral society, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to value-added products has not been commercialized yet because of its sluggish kinetics and low selectivity. The present work reports the fabrication of a low-crystalline trimetallic (AuCuIn) CO2 electroreduction catalyst and demonstrates its high performance in a gaseous CO2 electrolyzer. The high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO formation observed at a low overpotential in a half-cell test is ascribed to the controlled crystallinity and composition of this catalyst as well as to its faster charge transfer, downshifted d-band center, and low oxophilicity. The gaseous CO2 electrolyzer with the optimal catalyst as the cathode exhibits superior cell performance with a high CO FE and production rate, outperforming state-of-the-art analogs. Thus, the obtained results pave the way to the commercialization of CO2 electrolyzers and promote the establishment of a greener society.