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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
07:36
Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
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Highly Selective Electrolytic Reduction of CO2 to Ethylene
Monsuru Olatunji Dauda1, Mustapha Bello1, John Hendershot1
1Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
ACS Applied Energy Materials
|September 26, 2025
Summary
This study optimized carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to ethylene using a copper-phosphorus electrocatalyst. Weakly acidic conditions (pH 6) maximize ethylene production and conversion efficiency, offering a promising pathway for sustainable chemical synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Electrochemical CO2 reduction faces challenges with low efficiencies in alkaline and acidic conditions.
- Copper-based electrocatalysts are key for CO2 conversion but selectivity remains an issue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of buffered anolyte pH on CO2 reduction to ethylene using a Cu-P electrocatalyst.
- To understand the mechanism controlling C2 product selectivity and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Main Methods:
- Utilized a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly with a copper-phosphorus (Cu-P) electrocatalyst.
- Varied anolyte pH from 4 to 14 using phosphate buffers.
- Analyzed product selectivity and efficiency at different current densities and over extended operation.
Main Results:
- Maximized ethylene production (73% FE at 300 mA cm-2, 51% FE at 500 mA cm-2) at pH 6.
- Achieved 51% single-pass CO2 conversion efficiency for over 400 hours of continuous operation.
- Identified pH-dependent CO coverage and proton activity as key factors controlling selectivity.
Conclusions:
- Weakly acidic conditions (pH 6) with phosphate buffers favor ethylene production by controlling CO coverage and minimizing HER.
- Mechanism involves hydroxide elimination at low CO coverage (pH 6) versus hydrogenation at high CO coverage (pH 14).
- This work provides mechanistic insights for tuning C2 product selectivity in CO2 electroreduction.
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