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Published December 23, 2014 | public
Journal Article

The Evolution of the Polycrystalline Copper Surface, First to Cu(111) and Then to Cu(100), at a Fixed CO_2RR Potential: A Study by Operando EC-STM

Abstract

A study based on operando electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) has shown that a polycrystalline Cu electrode held at a fixed negative potential, −0.9 V (vs SHE), in the vicinity of CO_2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) in 0.1 M KOH, undergoes stepwise surface reconstruction, first to Cu(111) within 30 min, and then to Cu(100) after another 30 min; no further surface transformations occurred after establishment of the Cu(100) surface. The results may help explain the Cu(100)-like behavior of Cu(pc) in terms of CO_2RR product selectivity. They likewise suggest that products exclusive to Cu(100) single-crystal electrodes may be generated through the use of readily available inexpensive polycrystalline Cu electrodes. The study highlights the dynamic nature of heterogeneous electrocatalyst surfaces and also underscores the importance of operando interrogations when structure–composition–reactivity correlations are intended.

Additional Information

© 2014 American Chemical Society. Received: November 12, 2014; Revised: December 4, 2014. Publication Date (Web): December 9, 2014. This material is based upon work performed by the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, supported through the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy under Award No. DE-SC0004993.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023