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Cu supraparticles with enhanced mass transfer and abundant C-C coupling sites achieving ampere-level CO2-to-C2+ electrosynthesis

Author

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  • Lushan Ma

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Henan University of Technology)

  • Hong Liu

    (ShanghaiTech University)

  • Bingbao Mei

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jing Chen

    (Henan University of Technology)

  • Qingqing Cheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jingyuan Ma

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bo Yang

    (ShanghaiTech University)

  • Qiang Li

    (Nanjing University of Science and Technology)

  • Hui Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction to C2+ products at high current densities remains a significant challenge. Here we show inherently hydrophobic and hierarchically porous Cu supraparticles comprising sub-10 nm Cu constituent particles for ampere-level CO2-to-C2+ electrosynthesis. These supraparticles feature abundant grain boundaries for high C2+ selectivity, coupled with interconnected mesopores and interparticle macropore cavities to enhance the accessibility of the active sites and mass transfer, breaking the trade-off between activity and mass transfer in Cu-based catalysts. Moreover, the intrinsic hydrophobicity of the supraparticles mitigates the water-flooding issue of catalytic layer in flow cells, improving the stability at high current densities. Consequently, the Cu supraparticles achieve ampere-level CO2 electrolysis up to 3.2 A cm-2 with a C2+ Faradaic efficiency of 74.9% (compared to 1.21 A cm-2 and 55.4% for Cu nanoparticles) and maintain stability at 1 A cm-2 for over 100 h. This work provides profound insights into the effect of the coupling of mass transfer and catalytic reaction under a high current and presents a corresponding solution by superstructure design.

Suggested Citation

  • Lushan Ma & Hong Liu & Bingbao Mei & Jing Chen & Qingqing Cheng & Jingyuan Ma & Bo Yang & Qiang Li & Hui Yang, 2025. "Cu supraparticles with enhanced mass transfer and abundant C-C coupling sites achieving ampere-level CO2-to-C2+ electrosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58755-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58755-w
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    1. Jiaqi Feng & Libing Zhang & Shoujie Liu & Liang Xu & Xiaodong Ma & Xingxing Tan & Limin Wu & Qingli Qian & Tianbin Wu & Jianling Zhang & Xiaofu Sun & Buxing Han, 2023. "Modulating adsorbed hydrogen drives electrochemical CO2-to-C2 products," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Chunjun Chen & Xupeng Yan & Yahui Wu & Xiudong Zhang & Shoujie Liu & Fanyu Zhang & Xiaofu Sun & Qinggong Zhu & Lirong Zheng & Jing Zhang & Xueqing Xing & Zhonghua Wu & Buxing Han, 2023. "Oxidation of metallic Cu by supercritical CO2 and control synthesis of amorphous nano-metal catalysts for CO2 electroreduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Yao Yang & Sheena Louisia & Sunmoon Yu & Jianbo Jin & Inwhan Roh & Chubai Chen & Maria V. Fonseca Guzman & Julian Feijóo & Peng-Cheng Chen & Hongsen Wang & Christopher J. Pollock & Xin Huang & Yu-Tsun, 2023. "Operando studies reveal active Cu nanograins for CO2 electroreduction," Nature, Nature, vol. 614(7947), pages 262-269, February.
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