Abstract
Carbon dioxide electroreduction (CO(2)RR) with renewable energy is of great significance to realize carbon neutralization. Traditional electrolysis devices usually need an ion exchange membrane to eliminate the interference of oxygen generated on the anode. Herein, the novel CuO/CeO(2) composite was facilely prepared by anchoring small CuO nanoparticles on the surface of CeO(2) nanocubes. In addition, CuO(002) crystal planes were induced to grow on CeO(2)(200), which was preferable for CO(2) adsorption and C-C bond formation. As the catalyst in a membrane-free cell for CO(2)RR, the Cu(+) was stabilized due to strong interactions between copper and ceria to resist the reduction of negative potentials and the oxidation of oxygen from the counter electrode. As a result, a high Faradaic efficiency of 62.2% toward C(2) products (ethylene and ethanol) was achieved for the first time in the membrane-free conditions. This work may set off a new upsurge to drive the industrial application of CO(2)RR through membrane-free electrocatalysis.