Multi-shelled CuO microboxes for carbon dioxide reduction to ethylene

The electroreduction of CO 2 to valuable chemicals and fuels offers an effective mean for energy storage. Although CO 2 has been efficiently converted into C 1 products (e.g., carbon monoxide, formic acid, methane and methanol), its convention into high value-added multicarbon hydrocarbons with high selectivity and activity still remains challenging. Here we demonstrate the formation of multi-shelled CuO microboxes for the efficient and selective electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction to C 2 H 4 . Such a structure favors the accessibility of catalytically active sites, improves adsorption of reaction intermediate (CO), inhibits the diffusion of produced OH − and promotes C—C coupling reaction. Owing to these unique advantages, the multi-shelled CuO microboxes can effectively convert CO 2 into C 2 H 4 with a maximum faradaic efficiency of 51.3% in 0.1 M K 2 SO 4 . This work provides an effective way to improve CO 2 reduction efficiency via constructing micro- and nanostructures of electrocatalysts.