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Gold-Stabilized Copper Enables Anodic Hydrogen Evolution for Ultralow-Voltage CO-to-Ethylene Electrolysis
Sungjin Park1,2, Hengzhou Liu1,2, Heejong Shin1,2
1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new electrochemical process using furfural oxidation for hydrogen evolution, enhancing CO2 to ethylene conversion. This method significantly reduces energy consumption and co-produces hydrogen, offering a more sustainable pathway for chemical synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Traditional electrochemical upgrading of CO2 and CO to ethylene relies on oxygen evolution reaction (OER), leading to high cell voltages (>2.2 V).
- This high energy demand limits the efficiency and economic viability of ethylene production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore an alternative anodic reaction for electrochemical upgrading, specifically furfural oxidation to furoic acid coupled with anodic hydrogen evolution (a-HER).
- To improve the stability and activity of copper-based catalysts for the a-HER process.
Main Methods:
- Investigated furfural oxidation as an anodic reaction with a low onset potential (0.05 V vs. RHE).
- Utilized operando spectroscopy to understand catalyst deactivation mechanisms (hydroxide formation on copper).
- Screened metal dopants to stabilize copper catalysts; identified gold (Au) as the optimal dopant.
Main Results:
- Developed a gold-doped copper oxide catalyst enabling a-HER at 260 mA/cm² and 0.8 Vcell with 16-hour stability.
- Integrated this system into a CO-to-ethylene electrolyzer, achieving 0.92 Vfullcell at 400 mA/cm².
- The process requires 40 GJ/ton of ethylene and co-produces 460 kg H2/ton ethylene.
Conclusions:
- Furfural oxidation as an anodic reaction provides a lower voltage alternative to OER for electrochemical upgrading.
- Gold-doped copper catalysts significantly enhance the stability and activity of the anodic hydrogen evolution reaction.
- This integrated system offers a more energy-efficient and sustainable route for ethylene and hydrogen co-production.
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