Block Copolymer Particle-Templated Cavitated Carbons Achieve Local Alkalinity for Enhancing Acidic Electrochemical...

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) in neutral or alkaline environment suffers from carbonate formation, leading to low CO₂ utilization. Acidic operation can mitigate this issue, but is hampered by the dominant hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we report a cavitated carbon particle (CCP)-supported Au catalyst featuring abundant inner cavities that sustain elevated local alkalinity. These cavities could be formed by inducing interfacial instability in block copolymer particles. A solid carbon particle (SCP)-supported Au catalyst, which does not possess any cavities, was also synthesized, and the effect of the cavity for the CO₂RR was evaluated in 5 wt.% Au/CCP and Au/SCP catalysts at pH 2. Flow cell data and multi-physics simulation results confirm that a confined cavity geometry (diameter ∼130 nm) could increase local alkalinity significantly, suppressing HER and enhancing CO₂ reduction. The microenvironment was further modulated by changing the binder type, cation identity, and cation concentration. These findings establish cavity confinement as a powerful strategy to modulate the local reaction environment and enable selective CO₂RR under highly acidic conditions, providing a viable pathway for efficient CO₂ electrolysis.