Bulk-immiscible CuAg alloy nanorods prepared by phase transition from oxides for electrochemical CO 2 reduction.

Combining Cu and Ag in an alloy state holds promise to serve as a tandem catalyst for electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction, but is restricted by immiscibility in the bulk. Here, a far-from-equilibrium method is developed to synthesize CuAg alloy by electroreduction of Cu 2 Ag 2 O 3 under a large cathodic overpotential. The alloy state of CuAg is conducive to the formation of C 2+ molecules. A high formation rate of C 2 H 4 of 159.8 μmol cm -2 h -1 is reached on the CuAg alloy nanorods, 2.3 times higher than that on pure Cu.