# Reconstructed Copper Compound by Cerium Leaching for Enhanced Electrochemical CO2‐to‐Ethylene Conversion

## TL;DR

A new copper compound with cerium improves the conversion of CO2 to ethylene through structural reconstruction and optimized chemical interactions.

## Contribution

A Ce-incorporated Cu oxide is shown to enhance CO2-to-ethylene conversion via Ce leaching and structural reconstruction.

## Key findings

- CeCuOx achieves 55.39% Faraday efficiency for ethylene production at −0.93 V.
- Ce leaching and in situ reduction optimize Cu's electronic structure and hydrogen feedstock availability.
- Reconstructed structure enhances C1–2 intermediates generation and suppresses hydrogen evolution.

## Abstract

Rationally modulating the reconstructed structure of electrocatalyst is an effective avenue toward selective electrochemical CO2 reduction (e‐CO2RR). Herein, it is reported that a Ce‐incorporated Cu oxide (CeCuOx) can have prominent performance for the selective production of C2H4 with a high Faraday efficiency (FE) of 55.39% at −0.93 V, and partial current density of −39.50 mA cm−2 at −1.03 V, higher than those of Cu oxide and Cu at the same potential. Systematical experimental investigations show that the CeCuOx reconstructs to oxygen‐contained Cu with optimized Cu0/(Cu++Cu2+) ratio and electronic structure through Ce leaching and in situ reduction. All of those benefit water molecule cleavage and OH− accumulation that could provide hydrogen feedstock and suppress competitive hydrogen evolution. Importantly, specific C1–2 intermediates generation and activation are enhanced, achieving high C2H4 selectivity and efficiency. Our work provides new insights into the relationship between the reconstructed structure and mechanism for boosting CO2 to multi‐carbon products.

A Ce‐incorporated Cu oxide can achieve prominent selective CO2‐to‐ethylene performance by reconstructing to oxygen‐contained Cu with an optimized Cu0/(Cu++Cu2+) ratio and electronic structure through Ce leaching and in situ reduction. The interactions between the reconstructed structure and leached Ce improve the CO2‐to‐ethylene by enhancing water molecule cleavage, suppressing hydrogen evolution and optimizing carbon reaction pathways.