Product Distribution Control Guided by a Microkinetic Analysis for CO Reduction at High-Flux Electrocatalysis Using Gas-Diffusion Cu Electrodes

In addition to the identity of electrocatalyst materials, catalytic performance is strongly influenced by local steady-state environment perturbed reaction conditions (pressure and temperature) operating current density. Strategies developed experiments at low densities often cannot be simply extrapolated practical high electrocatalytic achieving over 1 A cm–2. this study, detailed microkinetic analysis high-flux electroreduction CO was carefully examined high-surface-area Cu-based electrocatalysts in form gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs). The study includes Tafel analysis, kinetic isotope effects, temperature pressure dependence measurements establish rate expressions based on elementary steps interpret pathways. Further digesting data as a function partial (PCO) disclosed higher PCO favored n-propanol (n-PrOH) acetate expense C2H4 C2H5OH, pinning down optimal maximize specific product given overpotential. These findings reinforce importance “beyond catalyst” phenomena modern electrocatalysis.