Core–shell nanostructured Cu-based bi-metallic electrocatalysts for co-production of ethylene and acetate

Abstract

Direct electrocatalytic CCU routes to produce a myriad of valuable chemicals (e.g., methanol, acetic acid, ethylene, propanol, among others) will allow the chemical industry to shift away from the conventional fossil-based production. Electrofuels need to go beyond the current electroreduction of CO₂ to CO, and we will here demonstrate the continuous flow electroreduction of syngas (i.e., CO and H₂), which are the products from CO₂-to-CO, with enhanced product selectivity (∼90% towards ethylene). To overcome current drawbacks, including bicarbonate formation that resulted in low CO₂ utilisation and low C₂₊ product selectivity, the development of nanostructured core–shell bi-metallic electrocatalysts for direct electrochemical reduction of syngas to C₂₊ is proposed. Electrosynthesis of ethylene is performed in a state-of-the-art continuous flow three-compartment cell to produce ethylene (cathodic gas phase product) and acetate (cathodic liquid phase product), simultaneously.