Direct atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) synthesis of nanosized CuOx–Ag composites for efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products
Page view(s)
0
Checked on
Direct atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) synthesis of nanosized CuOx–Ag composites for efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products
Direct atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) synthesis of nanosized CuOx–Ag composites for efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products
Agrotis, S., Lin, M., Mehta, K. H., Hagger, O. S. J., Made, R. I., Parkin, I. P., Caruana, D. J., Handoko, A. D. (2026). Direct atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) synthesis of nanosized CuOx–Ag composites for efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction to multi-carbon products. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ta02615j
Abstract:
An atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is an emerging technique capable of synthesising ligand-free nanosized composites with controllable configuration ratios. Here, an APPJ is used to synthesise and directly deposit CuOx–Ag for the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). The morphology of CuOx–Ag composites evolves from Janus-type to core–shell with higher Cu : Ag precursor ratios. When applied in CO2RR catalysis, the nanoparticle configuration appears to matter more than the exact Cu : Ag composition. The core–shell arrangement is found to exhibit higher C2+ production than the Janus-type structure, attributed to its ability to retain a larger Cu–Ag interfacial area during the CO2RR. Thorough pre- and post-catalysis electron microscopy investigations revealed that Cu–Ag pairing likely resulted in selective oxidation of Cu, resulting in a strained Cu2O–Ag epitaxial relationship that can be retained in the reduced Cu–Ag during the CO2RR. Using electrochemical methods as convenient “probes” to rationalise CO2RR activity, we found ECSA and EIS measurements to be ineffective in predicting CO2RR product selectivity. Instead, surface charge estimated using a modified pulse voltammetry technique is more suitable, where distinct behaviour between Ag- and Cu-containing catalysts can be observed. Due to severe reconstruction during catalysis, having a core–shell configuration is found to be more beneficial for catalytic performance than the initial composition. Beyond Cu–Ag, we believe that the findings are relevant to many other multi-component catalysts with immiscible constituents.
License type:
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - The Accelerated Catalyst Development Platform
Grant Reference no. : A19E9a0103
This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Programmatic Fund
Grant Reference no. : A1898b0043
This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - HTCO Seed Funding
Grant Reference no. : C231218004
This research / project is supported by the EPSRC - Single-Step Plasma Jet Material Deposition
Grant Reference no. : EP/T024836/1
This research is supported by core funding from: UCL Department of Chemistry
Grant Reference no. : NA