RETRACTED ARTICLE: Preparation of hollow Au_x-Cu₂O nanospheres by galvanic replacement to enhance the selective electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction to ethanol

Figures & data

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the formation process of Au_x-Cu₂O composites. (The main galvanic replacement reaction is 3Cu⁺ + AuCl₄⁻ → 3Cu²⁺ + Au + 4Cl⁻. The whole reaction is carried out under normal temperature and pressure).

Figure 2. XRD patterns of Cu₂O and Au_x-Cu₂O.

Figure 3. (a) and (b) SEM images of hollow Cu₂O nanospheres; (c) and (d) HRTEM images of hollow Cu₂O nanospheres.

Figure 4. (a) and (b) SEM images of Au_0.17-Cu₂O composite; (c)–(e) HRTEM images of Au_0.17-Cu₂O composite; (f)–(h) Element mapping of Cu, Au and O of Au_0.17-Cu₂O composite.

Figure 5. Au_0.17-Cu₂O (a) Survey spectra, (b) Cu LMM, (c) Cu 2p, (d) Au 4f.

Figure 6. (a) Cu₂O, (b) Au_0.17-Cu₂O, (c) Au_0.34-Cu₂O, (d) Au_0.51-Cu₂O in N₂-saturated 0.1 M KHCO₃ solution, scan rate = 10 mV/s.

Figure 7. Cyclic voltammograms at various scan rates for (a) Cu₂O, (b) Au_0.17-Cu₂O, (c) Au_0.34-Cu₂O, (d) Au_0.51-Cu₂O.

Figure 8. The linear relationship between current density and scan rate.

Figure 9. The FEs of H₂, CO, HCOOH and C₂H₅OH at different potentials on (a) Cu₂O, (b) Au_0.17-Cu₂O, (c) Au_0.34-Cu₂O, (d) Au_0.51-Cu₂O.