Copper-modulated bismuth nanocrystals alter the formate formation pathway to achieve highly selective CO2 electroreduction

Abstract

We incorporated Cu into Bi nanocrystals to modulate the local electronic environment of Bi atoms, altering the HCOOH formation pathway from COOH* to OCHO* intermediates. Thus, the evolution of by-products CO and H2 could be suppressed, and the resulting CuBi catalyst exhibits excellent CO2RR performance towards formate formation.