This study investigates the impact of porous bipyridine-based films on copper electrodes for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR). By varying film thickness and porosity, the researchers achieved almost a tenfold increase in ethylene formation's intrinsic current density and a significant rise in multicarbon product selectivity (from 9.7% to 61.9%). A microkinetic model suggests that thick, porous films enhance local carbon monoxide (CO) partial pressure and surface coverage, promoting C-C coupling and multicarbon product formation.

Siqi Zhao, Oliver Christensen, Zhaozong Sun, Hongqing Liang, Alexander Bagger, Kristian Torbensen, Pegah Nazari, Jeppe Vang Lauritsen, Steen Uttrup Pedersen, Jan Rossmeisl, Kim Daasbjerg