Boosting CO2-to-CO conversion on a robust single-atom copper decorated carbon catalyst by enhancing intermediate binding strength

Abstract

The ability to manipulate the binding strengths of intermediates on a catalyst is extremely challenging but essential for active and selective CO₂ electroreduction (CO₂RR). Single-atom copper anchored on a nitrogenated carbon (Cu–N–C) structure is still rarely unexplored for efficient CO production. Herein, we demonstrate a plausible hydrogen-bonding promoted strategy that significantly enhances the *COOH adsorption and facilitates the *CO desorption on a Cu–N–C catalyst. The as-prepared Cu–N–C catalyst with Cu–N₃ coordination achieves a high CO faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98% at −0.67 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) as well as superior stability (FE remains above 90% over 20 h). Notably, in a three-phase flow cell configuration, a remarkable CO₂ to CO FE of 99% at −0.67 V accompanying a large CO partial current density of 131.1 mA cm⁻² at −1.17 V was observed. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the Cu–N₃ coordination is potentially stabilized by an extended carbon plane with six nitrogen vacancies, while three unoccupied N sites are spontaneously saturated by protons during the CO₂RR. Therefore, the hydrogen bonds formed between the adsorbed *COOH and adjacent protons significantly reduce the energy barrier of *COOH formation. After the first proton-coupled electron transfer process, the adsorbed *CO species are easily released to boost the CO production.