Pr(OH)3 nanorods on Cu generates asymmetric active sites through interplay and geometric deformation for CO2 electroreduction

Herein, Pr(OH)3 nanorods are introduced onto Cu nanosheets to spontaneously regulate the interplay aiming to prevent Cu over-reduction during the CO2 electroreduction. Specifically, the 12.7% Pr(OH)3/Cu catalyst achieves a 50.2% Faradaic efficiency of C2H4 at industrially relevant current density of 250 mA cm-2.

Complementary structural characterizations combined with in situ/operando spectroscopy studies prove that Pr(OH)3 incorporation facilitates the generation of asymmetric Pr3+/Pr4+ and Cu+/Cu motifs, synergizing the formation of C2 products-related intermediates through increasing the number of active sites on the Pr(OH)3/Cu+/Cu heterogeneous interphase. This work demonstrates that the introduction of rare earth hydroxide can activate the asymmetric active sites on Cu, providing a sustainable pathway for efficient CO2-to-C2 conversion.