Optimizing Temperature Treatment of Copper Hollow Fibers for the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to CO

Copper hollow fibers were prepared via dry-wet spinning of a polymer solution N-methylpyrrolidone, Polyetherimide, Polyvinyl Pyrolidone, and copper particles sizes in the range 1–2 µm. To remove template molecules to sinter particles, time calcination was varied 1–4 h at 600 °C. This temperature determined based on Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), showing completion hydrocarbon removal this temperature. Furthermore, subsequent treatment flow 4% H2 (in Ar) 200 °C 400 °C, fixed 1 h. Temperature programmed reduction experiments (TPR) used analyze hydrogen treatment. The Faradaic Efficiency (FE) towards CO electrochemical CO2 −0.45 V vs. RHE (Reversible Hydrogen Electrode), using 0.3 M KHCO3 electrolyte. A 3 280 found induce highest FE 73% these constant conditions. Optimizing oxidation properties is discussed likely affect porosity, favoring gas distribution over length fiber, hence efficiency. Treatment 250 300 proposed content residual (subsurface) oxygen Cu, which leads favorable nanoscale.