Electrochemically synthesized Cu–Cu2O composite layers with incorporated carbon nanofibers for artificial light-assisted CO2-based synthesis of hydrocarbons
Electrochemically synthesized Cu–Cu2O composite layers with incorporated carbon nanofibers for artificial light-assisted CO2-based synthesis of hydrocarbons
Composite Cu–Cu2O–CNF layers were electrodeposited from an alkaline copper(II) lactate electrolyte containing dispersed carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Synthesized materials were analyzed according to their selectivity, efficiency, and stability in the electrochemical (EC.dep) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons. The effect of deposition potential (Edep.) on morphology, crystallographic structure, and localization of valence and conduction bands, as well as EC and PEC performance, was investigated. Faradaic efficiencies (FE) towards the formation of C2H4, CH4, CO, and H2 were evaluated both in the dark and under illumination using various conversion potentials in CO2-saturated KHCO3 solution. The maximal FE for the formation of CH4 and C2H4, considered as most valuable conversion products, were observed in the presence of light and achieved 9.87% and 17.53%, respectively. Both were observed at conversion potential (Econv.) of −0.893 V (vs. RHE). The highest FE for C2H4 was achieved for the Cu–Cu2O–CNF layer electrodeposited at −400 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), while for CH4 for the layer electrodeposited at −375 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The stability of the electrodeposited layer was analysed based on SEM, XPS, and WD-XRF analyses. The obtained results demonstrated that the incorporation of CNFs into the deposited layers had a significant effect on the band structure of the electrodeposited composites. Moreover, it was also observed that the both Edep. and the Econv. significantly affected the EC and PEC performances of the electrodeposited layers.
Artificial synthesis, CO conversion, Hydrocarbons, Photoelectrocatalysis
Kolbusz, Patrycja
cfea7b09-3346-4e39-9df5-8141b7b6134f
Jarczewski, S.ebastian
485a8def-e91c-4c1f-9560-58cc4ebacf32
Csapó, Edit
a5fc6257-ae13-4f9c-abbd-3b472f1dd047
Ponce De Leon Albarran, Carlos
508a312e-75ff-4bcb-9151-dacc424d755c
Mech, Krzysztof
5e08200b-98bc-4373-a0dc-6c172bf66c3f
17 March 2026
Kolbusz, Patrycja
cfea7b09-3346-4e39-9df5-8141b7b6134f
Jarczewski, S.ebastian
485a8def-e91c-4c1f-9560-58cc4ebacf32
Csapó, Edit
a5fc6257-ae13-4f9c-abbd-3b472f1dd047
Ponce De Leon Albarran, Carlos
508a312e-75ff-4bcb-9151-dacc424d755c
Mech, Krzysztof
5e08200b-98bc-4373-a0dc-6c172bf66c3f
Kolbusz, Patrycja, Jarczewski, S.ebastian, Csapó, Edit, Ponce De Leon Albarran, Carlos and Mech, Krzysztof
(2026)
Electrochemically synthesized Cu–Cu2O composite layers with incorporated carbon nanofibers for artificial light-assisted CO2-based synthesis of hydrocarbons.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 225, [154481].
(doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154481).
Abstract
Composite Cu–Cu2O–CNF layers were electrodeposited from an alkaline copper(II) lactate electrolyte containing dispersed carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Synthesized materials were analyzed according to their selectivity, efficiency, and stability in the electrochemical (EC.dep) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons. The effect of deposition potential (Edep.) on morphology, crystallographic structure, and localization of valence and conduction bands, as well as EC and PEC performance, was investigated. Faradaic efficiencies (FE) towards the formation of C2H4, CH4, CO, and H2 were evaluated both in the dark and under illumination using various conversion potentials in CO2-saturated KHCO3 solution. The maximal FE for the formation of CH4 and C2H4, considered as most valuable conversion products, were observed in the presence of light and achieved 9.87% and 17.53%, respectively. Both were observed at conversion potential (Econv.) of −0.893 V (vs. RHE). The highest FE for C2H4 was achieved for the Cu–Cu2O–CNF layer electrodeposited at −400 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), while for CH4 for the layer electrodeposited at −375 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The stability of the electrodeposited layer was analysed based on SEM, XPS, and WD-XRF analyses. The obtained results demonstrated that the incorporation of CNFs into the deposited layers had a significant effect on the band structure of the electrodeposited composites. Moreover, it was also observed that the both Edep. and the Econv. significantly affected the EC and PEC performances of the electrodeposited layers.
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 March 2026
Published date: 17 March 2026
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords:
Artificial synthesis, CO conversion, Hydrocarbons, Photoelectrocatalysis
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 511582
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511582
ISSN: 0360-3199
PURE UUID: 5bb07c2b-2028-4ded-b67c-7ed5aea53046
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Date deposited: 21 May 2026 16:42
Last modified: 23 May 2026 01:46
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Contributors
Author:
Patrycja Kolbusz
Author:
S.ebastian Jarczewski
Author:
Edit Csapó
Author:
Krzysztof Mech
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