Copper nanoparticles stabilized by reduced graphene oxide for CO₂ reduction reaction

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the main gases produced by human activity and is responsible for the green house effect. Numerous routes for CO₂ capture and reduction are currently under investigation. Another approach to mitigate the CO₂ content in the atmosphere is to convert it into useful species such as hydrocarbon molecules that can be used for fuel. In this view, copper is one of the most interesting catalyst materials for CO₂ reduction due to its remarkable ability to generate hydrocarbon fuels. However, its utilization as an effective catalyst for CO₂ reduction is hampered by its oxidation and relatively high voltages. We have fabricated hybrid materials for CO₂ reduction by combining the activity of copper and the conductivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) deposited on rGO have demonstrated higher current density and lower overpotential compared to other copper-based electrodes that we have tested. The CuNPs on rGO also exhibit better stability, preserving their catalytic activity without degradation for several hours.