Study of CO2 plasmon-assisted electroreduction over Cu2O-Au nanostructures towards C2 compounds synthesis

Abstract

Allied to the growing global energy demand, the increase in the global average temperature, mainly attributed to the high CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, brought impacting consequences to the planet. In order to alleviate both problems simultaneously and boost the use of sustainable means of obtaining energy, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to higher value-added products, such as ethylene and ethanol, is proposed. This reaction has been studied since the middle of the 20th century and still has knowledge gaps that prevent its application on a large scale, such as its low yield and selectivity for the synthesis of C2 compounds.In recent decades, the plasmonics branch has emerged as a possible solution to macroscopic barriers. The possibility of manipulating the light stimulus in matter on a nanometric scale allowed the discovery of new reaction pathways that are not possible in purely electrochemical conditions or in non-nanostructured electrocatalysts, in addition to enabling more precise control of selectivity. The various possible mechanisms for plasmonic electrochemical reactions, and the lack of detailed studies in the literature, make this field very promising. This project aims to unite the localized surface plasmonic resonance of Au, with the selectivity of production of C2+ compounds of Cu2O, to synthesize Cu2O-Au bimetallic nanostructures aimed at a detailed study of the electrochemical plasmonic reduction of CO2. (AU)