Faceted Copper Nanocubes for Selective CO₂ Reduction to High-Value Products
Robert Lam, Jonah Salman Ambrose Glass-Hussain
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Faculty Supervisor: Michael Enright
To ensure an environmentally sustainable economy, we must reduce our reliance on petroleum. This project seeks to move away from a petroleum-based economy by exploring CO₂ reduction as an alternative carbon feedstock. Copper nanoparticles can be used to electro-catalytically reduce CO₂ to carbon-based products, however, this process is typically nonselective. Here, we seek to improve CO₂ reduction selectivity on copper by deploying highly faceted copper nanocrystals on electrodes to guide selectivity towards high-value C₂₊ products such as ethylene. Characteristics such as shape, size, structure, and other exposed facets of the nanocrystal are fine-tuned to affect the catalytic selectivity of copper in self-assembled superlattices. Currently, our work has focused on synthesis, scale-up and purification strategies for copper nanocubes and nano-octahedra and investigating methods for deposition such as spin coating and drop casting. Characterized by distinct, strong plasmonic properties present near 600-650 nm by UV-Vis as well as SEM imaging, we demonstrate the successful scale-up and deposition of concentrated copper nanocrystals. These concentrated batches will be used to deposit copper nanoparticles on electrodes for selective reduction of CO₂ and ultimately pave the way for more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.