Preparation of nano-Cu electrode and application in electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂

Cu electrode is very efficient for electroreduction of CO₂, while electrodeposited nano-Cu is much better. With the aim of optimizing the electrochemical catalytic behavior of nano-Cu electrode material toward electrochemical reduction of CO₂, the electrodeposition conditions, such as deposition time, H₂SO₄ concentration, deposition potential and Cu²⁺ concentration, have been investigated. SEM was used to characterize the morphology of nano-Cu. Finally, the nano-Cu was used to the electrochemical synthesis of propylene carbonate from CO₂ and propylene oxide. The investigation indicates that the nano-Cu has greater catalytic ability toward the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ and higher yield of propylene carbonate can accomplish by using nano-Cu electrode.