Atomic Layered ZnO Between Cu Nanoparticles and a PVP Polymer Layer Enable Exceptional Selectivity and Stability in Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to C2H4

Abstract

This study employs a chemically controlled strategy to construct a few-atomic-layer ZnO structure integrated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and nanoscale metallic copper on active carbon. Hydrogen-bond interactions from PVP's N-vinylpyrrolidone allow ZnO to retain a specific proportion of metal atoms, confining electrons at the Cu/ZnO interface to form CuZn nanoalloy clusters. The nanoalloy's dual role in promoting CO adsorption and C─C coupling synergistically boosts C2H4 production during electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR). Rapid Cu regeneration further increases adsorbed hydrogen (Hads) from water splitting, achieving a remarkable C2H4 selectivity of ≈50.2% with stable performance over 10 h. The Zn→Cu electron confinement and interfacial synergy at the organic-oxide-metal heterojunction underscore the catalyst's superior efficiency, offering a promising pathway for sustainable CO2-to-C2H4 conversion.