Enhanced Nanoconfinement of Copper-Organic Interfaces within Phthalocyanine Frameworks for Selective Electroreduction of CO to Acetate

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Quanquan Yang - , CAS - Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (Author)
  • Yaqi Chen - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Nengji Liu - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Shengxu Li - , CAS - Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering (Author)
  • Mengwei Chen - , CAS - Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering (Author)
  • Wanzhen Zheng - , CAS - Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Yubin Fu - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed) (Author)
  • Junyi Han - , CAS - Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering (Author)
  • Raul D. Rodriguez - , Tomsk Polytechnic University (Author)
  • Yang Hou - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Tao Zhang - , CAS - Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering (Author)

Abstract

Acetate is an essential raw material in the chemical industry, supporting sustainable processes and efficient carbon utilization, driving interest in electrochemical CO-to-acetate conversion. However, this process is limited by catalyst instability and the complexity of the reaction pathway, making precise control difficult. Herein, we engineer nanoconfined copper-organic interfaces within a series of nucleophilic substituted heterocyclic copper phthalocyanine covalent organic frameworks (CuPc-COFs) with AA’ stacking configuration to selectively steer CO electroreduction toward acetate. This architecture stabilizes low-coordination Cu clusters─generated via partial reduction of phthalocyanine Cu sites─and fosters synergistic CuPc-Cu cluster interactions, creating an active interfacial microenvironment that enhances acetate selectivity. The optimized CuPc-COF achieves a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 53.5% for acetate at −0.9 V vs RHE. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirms the in situ formation of highly reactive copper-organic interfaces, while in situ FTIR spectroscopy and DFT calculations reveal that low-coordinated Cu clusters strengthen *CO bridge adsorption (*COB) and promote *COCO dimerization. Additionally, heterocyclic linkers provide electron donation, stabilizing the Cu clusters and improving the structural integrity. This work elucidates the critical role of nanoconfined interface engineering in C-C coupling and establishes a design paradigm for advanced CO electroreduction catalysts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22132-22140
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume147
Issue number25
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jun 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 40499032