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Updated: Sep 10, 2025
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Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
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Plasmon-Enhanced C2H4 Generation in the CO2 Electroreduction Reaction on a CuPd Tandem Catalyst
Li Zhu1, Kang Liu2, Huang Jingwei Li2
1Nanoinstitute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539 München, Germany.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|August 26, 2025
Summary
Plasmon resonances boost CO2 electroreduction to ethylene (C2H4) by 27% using CuPd catalysts. This enhances carbon recycling by facilitating CO formation and C-C coupling for sustainable chemical production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Electrocatalysis converts carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemicals, aiding greenhouse gas mitigation.
- Selective production of C2 products like ethylene (C2H4) is difficult due to competing C1 pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance electroreduction of CO2 to C2H4 using plasmon resonance on a CuPd catalyst.
- To elucidate the mechanism of plasmon-enhanced CO2 electroreduction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CuPd catalyst under LED illumination (625 nm) at -1.3 V RHE.
- Employed photocurrent response, in situ FTIR spectroscopy, and COMSOL simulations.
- Performed Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 27.0% enhancement in C2H4 selectivity.
- Demonstrated that plasmon-derived hot electrons and heating facilitate *CO formation and C-C coupling.
- DFT calculations confirmed reduced energy barriers for C-C coupling with increased *CO coverage.
Conclusions:
- Plasmon resonances selectively enhance CO2 electroreduction to C2H4 on CuPd catalysts.
- Mechanistic insights reveal the role of hot electrons and surface diffusion in C-C coupling.
- This study guides the development of efficient plasmonic catalysts for carbon recycling.
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