Uniform wrapping of copper(i) oxide nanocubes by self-controlled copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition toward selective carbon dioxide electrocatalysis

Abstract

Copper(I) oxide nanocubes were wrapped with an extremely uniform organic layer grown by self-controlled, Cu-mediated catalysis. This layer aided in retaining the initial cubic structure of the copper nanocubes during their use as a CO₂ reduction electrocatalyst, resulting in high CO₂ reduction selectivity by strong suppression of hydrogen evolution because of exclusion of water from the surface.