In Situ Electropolymerizing Toward EP-CoP/Cu Tandem Catalyst for Enhanced Electrochemical CO₂-to-Ethylene Conversion

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction has garnered significant interest in the conversion of sustainable energy to valuable fuels and chemicals. Cu-based bimetallic catalysts play a crucial role in enhancing ^*CO concentration on Cu sites for efficient C─C coupling reactions, particularly for C₂ product generation. To enhance Cu's electronic structure and direct its selectivity toward C₂ products, a novel strategy is proposed involving the in situ electropolymerization of a nano-thickness cobalt porphyrin polymeric network (EP-CoP) onto a copper electrode, resulting in the creation of a highly effective EP-CoP/Cu tandem catalyst. The even distribution of EP-CoP facilitates the initial reduction of CO₂ to ^*CO intermediates, which then transition to Cu sites for efficient C─C coupling. DFT calculations confirm that the ^*CO enrichment from Co sites boosts ^*CO coverage on Cu sites, promoting C─C coupling for C₂₊ product formation. The EP-CoP/Cu gas diffusion electrode achieves an impressive current density of 726 mA cm⁻² at −0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), with a 76.8% Faraday efficiency for total C₂₊ conversion and 43% for ethylene, demonstrating exceptional long-term stability in flow cells. These findings mark a significant step forward in developing a tandem catalyst system for the effective electrochemical production of ethylene.