Atomic Coordination Engineering of Sub‐Nanometer Cu Clusters for Selective CO <sub>2</sub> Electroreduction to Multi‐Carbon Alcohols

Q Qingfeng Hua (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Beijing Key Laboratory for Chemical Power Source and Green Catalysis, Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing 100081 P.R. China) G Guang Feng L Lina Su (State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources; College of Chemistry Xinjiang University Urumqi China) A An Zhang (City University of Hong Kong , , , ,) W Wei Zhai (City University of Hong Kong , , , ,) Y Yanan Yang (Agilent Technologies) J Jiayao Li M Mingrui Luo (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Beijing Key Laboratory for Chemical Power Source and Green Catalysis, Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing 100081 P.R. China) H Hao Mei (University of Mississippi, Jackson, MS, USA.) H Hao Tian (Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology) Z Zhiqi Huang

Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to multi‐carbon (C 2+ ) alcohols remains a substantial challenge due to the competing ethylene pathway. Precisely tuning the bond energy of key intermediates plays an essential role in dictating the alcohol and ethylene pathway. Herein, we demonstrate that S and N coordinated Cu sub‐nanometer clusters (Cu/SNC) can achieve targeted modulation of the bond energy (Cu─C, C─O, and Cu─O) of multiple key intermediates (*CO and *OCHCH 2 ), thus leading to preferential production of C 2+ alcohols rather than ethylene. Notably, Cu/SNC exhibited a C 2+ alcohols selectivity of 59.1% and a high alcohol‐to‐ethylene ratio of 7.21, which is 19 times larger than that without S and N coordination. Mechanistic studies reveal that N and S dopants individually facilitate CO 2 activation and lower the *CO adsorption energy barrier, synergistically steering the asymmetric C─C coupling pathway to promote C 2+ species formation. Moreover, N and S co‐coordination enables precise modulation of the adsorption behavior of oxygen‐containing intermediates. This electronic restructuring weakens Cu─O interactions while strengthening the C─O bond, thereby preferentially stabilizing alcohol‐forming pathways. This work provides a framework for precisely regulating the reaction pathway toward the highly selective electroreduction of CO 2 to C 2+ alcohols.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 52
Published December 22, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

Q

Qingfeng Hua

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Beijing Key Laboratory for Chemical Power Source and Green Catalysis, Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing 100081 P.R. China

G

Guang Feng

L

Lina Su

State Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Utilization of Carbon Based Energy Resources; College of Chemistry Xinjiang University Urumqi China

A

An Zhang

City University of Hong Kong , , , ,

W

Wei Zhai

City University of Hong Kong , , , ,

Y

Yanan Yang

Agilent Technologies

J

Jiayao Li

M

Mingrui Luo

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Beijing Key Laboratory for Chemical Power Source and Green Catalysis, Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing 100081 P.R. China

H

Hao Mei

University of Mississippi, Jackson, MS, USA.

H

Hao Tian

Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology

Z

Zhiqi Huang