Mesoporous palladium-copper bimetallic electrodes for selective electrocatalytic reduction of aqueous CO2 to CO

Finding a highly efficient, selective and economic approach for electrochemical reduction of aqueous carbon dioxide is a great challenge in realizing an artificial system for a sustainable carbon cycle. Novel mesoporous palladium-copper bimetallic electrocatalysts with superior activity and high faradaic efficiencies (FEs) are reported for the first time. The mesoporous nanostructure provides a roughened surface which is abundant in active sites and promotes selective conversion of CO2 to CO. First-principles calculations exhibit that Pd atoms on the catalyst surface serve as reactive centers and highly selective CO formation is attributed to the geometric and electronic effects within the palladium-copper bimetallic alloys. The CO2 and COOH* intermediate adsorption ability and the CO desorption ability on Pd atoms are effectively enhanced in the presence of Cu. Our results provide wide ranging implications for further improving the design and preparation of CO2 reduction electrocatalysts.