(Invited) Insights from the Interplay of the Electrode Structure and the Microenvironment for Electrochemical CO2 Conversion

The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) represents a critical approach toward the carbon-neutral generation of hydrocarbons. However, despite intense research efforts, the need remains to increase the selectivity and activity of electrocatalysts for CO 2 RR. Thus, there has been increasing interest in optimizing the microenvironment to boost the activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic sites for CO 2 conversion. This presentation discusses several strategies that are being pursued in my research group to optimize the microenvironment for CO 2 conversion based on a detailed understanding of model systems for electrochemical CO 2 conversion to C 2+ products on Cu. Here, microenvironment-level insights from two model systems will be discussed: The effect of localization of Ag co-catalysts in Cu nanowire arrays The impact of the 3D interface on the microenvironment within model Cu nanowire array cathodes to boost C 2 product activity Overall, these insights can aid in the rational design of electrodes for electrochemical CO 2 conversion. Figure 1