Electrochemical Restructuring of H2O2 Activated Copper Selenide for CO2 reduction
Abstract
Copper chalcogenides such as Cu2-xSe, acknowledged as efficient CO2 reduction catalysts, do not represent the active phases but rather are precursors or pre-catalysts as they undergo significant transformations under reaction conditions. In this work we have tailored the initial structure of Cu2-xSe to steer structural evolution under catalytic conditions and facilitate the generation of the active phases. As-prepared Cu2-xSe nanowires were reconstructed through H2O2 and electrochemical treatments, yielding distinct pre-catalysts. Their electrochemical reduction was found to be an effective strategy to enhance the formation of active metallic Cu nanoparticles. Chemical pretreatment with H2O2 further accelerates this process by inducing a structural loosening and partial oxidation of the Cu2-xSe phase, making the material more susceptible to electrochemical activation. Supported by in situ Raman spectroscopy, quasi-in situ x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning tunneling electron microscopy analysis, it is suggested that structural transformation is a common feature of many copper-based catalysts during CO2 electroreduction. The as-prepared Cu2-xSe nanowires, about 300 nm in diameter, exhibit a methanol selectivity of 23% and a low CO2 selectivity of only 4% at −1.4 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. In contrast, 50–90 nm cubic Cu₂O pre-catalysts obtained after H2O2 oxidation and electro-activation treatments, have a CO selectivity of up to 82%. Density functional theory computations demonstrate lower binding energy of reaction intermediates, including *CO, on metallic Cu (110) than on Cu2Se (220), which may account for the enhanced CO production of the electro-activated catalyst. Our work sheds light on the dependence of the catalytic performance of copper selenide on its initial restructuration and provides guidance for the development of efficient and selective CO2 conversion catalysts.