Alcohol

Catalysis

Composite number

Engineering

Electrochemistry

Materials science

Carbon monoxide

Carbon fibers

Chemical engineering

Physical chemistry

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Electrosynthesis

Composite material

Chemistry

Electrode

Copper

Nature Catalysis

The electrosynthesis of higher-order alcohols from carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide addresses the need for the long-term storage of renewable electricity; unfortunately, the present-day performance remains below what is needed for practical applications. Here we report a catalyst design strategy that promotes C3 formation via the nanoconfinement of C2 intermediates, and thereby promotes C2:C1 coupling inside a reactive nanocavity. We first employed finite-element method simulations to assess the potential for the retention and binding of C2 intermediates as a function of cavity structure. We then developed a method of synthesizing open Cu nanocavity structures with a tunable geometry via the electroreduction of Cu2O cavities formed through acidic etching. The nanocavities showed a morphology-driven shift in selectivity from C2 to C3 products during the carbon monoxide electroreduction, to reach a propanol Faradaic efficiency of 21 ± 1% at a conversion rate of 7.8 ± 0.5 mA cm−2 at −0.56 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. The production of higher alcohols is very valuable because of their high volumetric energy density. Now, Sargent, Sinton and co-workers report the design of copper nanoparticles with tailored nanocavities that promote n-propanol formation by the coupling of C2 and C1 intermediates inside the cavity.

Copper nanocavities confine intermediates for efficient electrosynthesis of C3 alcohol fuels from carbon monoxide