Boosting CO2-to-C2H4 electrocatalysis on Cu2O with waste-derived porous carbon from coconut shells

Abstract

This study presents a sustainable strategy to boost CO2-to-C2H4 conversion by constructing Cu–C interfaces using Cu2O nanospheres supported on porous carbon derived from waste coconut shells. The Cu2O–10mgC catalyst achieves a 4-fold increase in FE(C2H4) compared with Cu2O and maintains >40% selectivity for 45 h. In situ spectra reveal enhanced *COLFB coverage, confirming that oxygen-rich functional groups at the Cu–C interface promote C–C coupling. This work demonstrates both the catalytic and economic feasibility of waste-derived carbon supports for efficient CO2-to-C2H4 conversion.