Selective electrocatalytic CO2 to methane and acetate on Cu3N-NaN3-EDA nanoparticles

초록

The development of efficient catalysts made from earth abundant elements has gained much attention from the scientific community. Herein, we report on the preparation, the surface functionalization of Cu3N nanoparticles and their use as catalyst for CO2 reduction reactions. Cu3N cubic nanoparticles, sized of 14.4 +/- 2 nm, were synthesized using octadecyl-amine (ODA) as the capping ligand. A novel post-functionalization process was developed using a mixture of ethylenediamine (EDA) and sodium-azide (NaN3) to completely remove ODA ligand. The resultant Cu3N-NaN3-EDA nanoparticles showed an attractive catalytic CO2 reduction activity, e.g. favor the production of CH4 and acetate products in comparison to CO and formate products, when being assayed in a 0.1 M NaHCO3 solution saturated with CO2. HRTEM, Raman and FTIR analyses were used to evidence the success of ligand exchange as well as the role of EDA ligand in activating the CO2 molecule through the formation of carbamate.

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