Copper Catalysts Show Unexpected Role in Solar-Driven Carbon Dioxide Conversion
Copper is a promising catalyst for sustainably converting carbon dioxide into substances with more electrons (called reduced species). This is an important step in converting carbon dioxide into fuels. This reaction is often initiated by electrical energy, but it can also be achieved using solar energy to produce solar fuels. However, scientists do not fully understand the chemical nature of the copper catalyst during the solar reaction. In this work, scientists used X-rays to investigate how copper catalysts change when operating only with light and no applied electricity. Changes to the copper composition during the reaction indicate that it plays an unexpected role. Instead of forming a more reduced species, the copper produces a more oxidized chemical species.
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