Copper/Carbon (Cu/C, Premetek) as Electrocatalysts for Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell, 1 g/bottle, CEFCCuC
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Copper on Carbon (Cu/C) is a standout material in the world of non-precious electrocatalysts. While platinum and iridium dominate acidic PEM systems, Cu/C is the "master of versatility" in alkaline environments and is the world’s most important catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of CO2.
Copper is unique among all metals because it is the only catalyst capable of producing significant amounts of multi-carbon (C2+) products from carbon dioxide. (1) Hydrocarbon Production: Unlike gold or silver (which primarily produce CO), Cu/C can drive the reaction further to produce ethylene (C2H4), ethanol (C2H5OH), and propanol. (2) Binding Energy: Copper has a "Goldilocks" binding energy for carbon monoxide (CO) intermediates. It binds them strongly enough to allow them to couple together (C-C bond formation) but weakly enough to release the final hydrocarbon products. (3) Selectivity Tuning: By adjusting the copper's oxidation state (Cu0 vs Cu+) or using specific binders like Nafion or PAA, researchers can steer the reaction toward either gaseous fuels (methane) or liquid fuels (ethanol).
In the emerging field of Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) fuel cells, Cu/C is being developed as a low-cost replacement for platinum cathodes. (1) Oxygen Reduction (ORR): While pure copper is less active than platinum in acid, nitrogen-doped carbon supported copper has shown onset potentials (up to 0.97 V) that can actually surpass commercial Pt/C in alkaline conditions. (2) Single-Atom Catalysts (SACs): Modern Cu/C catalysts often use "isolated" copper atoms anchored to nitrogen sites in the carbon matrix. These catalysts maximize atom utilization and provide excellent durability in alkaline electrolytes. (3) Bimetallic Synergy: Copper is frequently alloyed with palladium (Pd-Cu/C) or silver (Ag-Cu/C) to create high-performance cathodes that are significantly cheaper than pure platinum.
| Part Number |
CEFCECuC5 |
CEFCECuC10 |
CEFCECuC20 |
CEFCECuC40 |
CEFCECuC60 |
| Copper/Carbon Content |
5 wt% Cu, 95 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
10 wt% Cu, 90 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
20 wt% Cu, 80 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
40 wt% Cu, 60 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
60 wt% Cu, 40 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
| Metal Surface Area |
~30 m2/g |
~25 m2/g |
~20 m2/g |
~15 m2/g |
~10 m2/g |
| Catalyst BET Surface Area: |
~235 m2/g |
~225 m2/g |
~200 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
~100 m2/g |
| Metal Crystallite Size |
~20 nm |
~25 nm |
~25 nm |
~40 nm |
~50 nm |
| Catalyst granule size D(100) |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
≤75 µm |
≤75 µm |
≤75 µm |
| Impurities |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
| Package Size | 1.0 g/bottle | 1.0 g/bottle | 1.0 g/bottle | 1.0 g/bottle | 1.0 g/bottle |
Notes: Please try to store the Cu/C powder in a dry place.
References:
- G. Shi, et al. Constructing Cu−C Bonds in a Graphdiyne-Regulated Cu Single-Atom Electrocatalyst for CO2 Reduction to CH4, Angew Chem. Int. Ed., 2022, 61, e202203569.
- N. Gutiérrez-Guerra, et al. Gas-phase electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to chemicals on sputtered Cu and Cu–C catalysts electrodes, J. Energy Chem., 2019, 31, 46-53.