Core-shell nanostructured Cu-based bi-metallic electrocatalysts for co-production of ethylene and acetate.

Direct electrocatalytic CCU routes to produce a myriad of valuable chemicals ( e.g. , methanol, acetic acid, ethylene, propanol, among others) will allow the chemical industry to shift away from the conventional fossil-based production. Electrofuels need to go beyond the current electroreduction of CO 2 to CO, and we will here demonstrate the continuous flow electroreduction of syngas ( i.e. , CO and H 2 ), which are the products from CO 2 -to-CO, with enhanced product selectivity (∼90% towards ethylene). To overcome current drawbacks, including bicarbonate formation that resulted in low CO 2 utilisation and low C 2+ product selectivity, the development of nanostructured core-shell bi-metallic electrocatalysts for direct electrochemical reduction of syngas to C 2+ is proposed. Electrosynthesis of ethylene is performed in a state-of-the-art continuous flow three-compartment cell to produce ethylene (cathodic gas phase product) and acetate (cathodic liquid phase product), simultaneously.