A silver–copper oxide catalyst for acetate electrosynthesis from carbon monoxide

Acetic acid is an important chemical feedstock. The electrocatalytic synthesis of acetic from CO2 offers a low-carbon alternative to traditional synthetic routes, but the direct reduction comes with crossover energy penalty. CO electroreduction bypasses this, which motivates interest in cascade approach followed by acid. Here we report catalyst design strategy off-target intermediates (such as ethylene and ethanol) acetate are destabilized. On optimized Ag–CuO2 catalyst, this destabilization leads Faradaic efficiency 70% at 200 mA cm−2. We demonstrate 18 hours stable operation membrane electrode assembly; system produced 5 wt% 100 cm−2 full-cell 25%, twofold improvement on highest energy-efficient electrosynthesis prior reports. typically has drawback crossover. Now, for CO, acid, reported destabilized, leading 70%.