DESIGN OF ELECTROCATALYST FOR CO2 REDUCTION .5. EFFECT OF THE MICROCRYSTALLINE STRUCTURES OF CU-SN AND CU-ZN ALLOYS ON THE ELECTROCATALYSIS OF CO2 REDUCTION

Electrocatalytic activities of Cu-Sn and Cu-Zn alloys for CO2 reduction were examined in 0.05M KHCO3 aqueous solution at 2-degrees-C. It was found that the selectivity, the reversibility, and the reactivity for CO or HCOOH production strongly depended on the microcrystalline phase rather than the gross composition of alloys. The crystallites of the intermetallic compounds of Cu5.6Sn and Cu5Zn8 were effective phases for the selective formation of CO with a high reaction rate.