Intermetallic Copper-Antimony Alloy for Enhanced Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) is a key strategy for releasing the recycling of renewable energy and achieving carbon neutrality. Although copper catalysts are effective, their selectivity and stability are still unsatisfied for highly efficient CO2RR. In this study, we developed bimetal Cu3Sb alloy by a high temperature solid-state method for enhanced CO2RR. By modulating the coordination environment of Cu with Sb, we achieved intermetallic synergy in Cu-Sb electrocatalysts for selective electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO. The Cu3Sb alloy exhibited excellent performance, yielding a maximum Faraday efficiency of 97.9% with a CO partial current density of approximately 42.8 mA<middle dot>cm(-2) and maintained high selectivity and stability in both flow cells and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cells. The catalytic mechanism and robustness of Cu3Sb were further promulgated by ex/in situ electrochemical tests and postreaction analyses. This research highlights the potential of Cu-Sb alloys in practical CO2 electrolyzers and paves the way for the development of intermetallic compounds as durable and efficient catalytic systems for carbon capture and conversion technologies.