Bimetallic copper indium catalysts have been identified as active in the carbon dioxide reduction reaction. With electro-deposited thin films of copper and iridium on silicon wafers, we studied the bimetallic catalysts in operando conditions using grazing incidence x-ray absorption spectroscopy (GI-XAS).  Copper and copper/iridium films both had thin oxide layers on their surfaces during catalytic condtions. The oxide layer on the copper only film was deeper than for the copper/iridium. The copper/iridium catalyst also produced more oxygenated products. The electronic structure of the bimetallic system may weaken the metal-oxygen bond at surface sites to produce more oxygenated products.

Thin film x-ray absorption spectroscopy study of bimetallic copper and iridium electro-catalysts during carbon dioxide reduction conditions

ACS Spring 2022

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