Functional Group Engineering of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Anchoring Copper Nanoparticles Toward Selective CO<sub>2</sub> Electroreduction to C<sub>2</sub> Products
Kang Wang, Kai Huang, Zeming Wang, Guangbin An, Mingwan Zhang, Wenhui Liu, Shuai Fu, Huazhang Guo, Baohua Zhang, Cheng Lian, Jingjie Wu, Liang Wang
Abstract
Abstract Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a key strategy for achieving net‐zero carbon emissions. Copper (Cu)‐based electrocatalysts have shown promise for CO 2 conversion into valuable chemicals but are hindered by limited C 2+ product selectivity due to competing hydrogen evolution and ineffective dimerization of adsorbed CO intermediate ( * CO). Here, a functional‐group‐directed strategy is reported to enhance selectivity using single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as supports. The catalytic performance of Cu nanoparticles is strongly influenced by the type and density of functional groups on the SWCNTs. Optimized Cu/amine‐functionalized SWCNTs achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 66.2% and a partial current density of −270 mA cm −2 for C 2 products within a flow cell, outperforming Cu/SWCNTs and Cu/cyano‐functionalized SWCNTs. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the electron‐donating amine groups can facilitate electron transfer from the graphite sheet to Cu atoms, thereby shifting the d‐band center of Cu upward. This shift enhances * CO and its hydrogenation derivative adsorption and promotes water splitting, leading to an increased tendency for the generation of C 2 products. In situ infrared and Raman spectroscopy confirm the enhancement of key * CHO intermediate coverage, facilitating C─C coupling. This work provides a molecular framework for exploring interactions between functional groups and active metals in CO 2 electrolysis, offering insights for designing catalysts for a broad range of electrocatalytic processes.